The Yaounde Military Court has, for the 16th time, adjourned the hearing of the murder case of journalist Martinez Zogo.
A hearing scheduled for Monday, February 3, 2025, saw the matter pushed to February 24 by the presiding judge, Colonel Njone Jacques.
The adjournement follows an appeal pending before the Center Regional Court of Appeal over the Yaounde Military Court’s rejection of some exceptions the defence lawyers raised in previous hearings.
The court had, in a November 2024 ruling, rejected motions that the defence counsel raised for the release and reclassification of charges for some of the suspects.
The Defense argued that the court should free high profile suspects, notably business magnate Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga, and former director of the military spy unit, Leopold Maxim Eko Eko.
They cited procedural flaws and a contested release order signed more than a year ago by Sikati Kamwo, then investigating judge and vice president of the Yaounde military Court.
Defense lawyers also demanded a reclassification of charges against other suspects.
In a ruling, the presiding judge outrightly dismissed these arguments on grounds of prematurity and lack of merits.
The lawyers strongly contested the court’s decision and filed a motion with the Court of Appeal contesting the ruling.
The appellate court is yet to rule on the case, causing a delay in the proceedings of the Martinez Zogo Case at military court.
The journalist was abducted while returning from work in Yaounde and was found dead five days later on January 17, 2023.
