Lawyers for businessman Martin Savom have issued a strong warning that their client is being framed in the murder of journalist Martinez Zogo, a move they say is meant to divert blame away from the real culprits, including key figures still under investigation.
In a statement released Tuesday following the hearing on 24 November at the Yaoundé Military Court, the defense said the prosecution’s main witness, Jean Ekassi, never directly accused Savom of killing Zogo. According to Savom’s lawyers, Ekassi admitted that he had no evidence and was only repeating rumours allegedly heard from two other individuals. Despite this, they claim social media reports immediately portrayed Savom as Zogo’s murderer, a portrayal the defense describes as a deliberate “disinformation campaign.”
The lawyers argue the timing and nature of the leaks point to a coordinated effort to pin the crime on Savom, thereby clearing the path for release of other suspects. Among those remains Jean‑Pierre Amougou Belinga, the media magnate long suspected of masterminding the journalist’s abduction and torture. Belinga, along with several high-ranking members of the national intelligence services, was arrested in early 2023 following Zogo’s kidnapping and subsequent murder.
According to investigators, Belinga allegedly ordered the beating of Zogo after the journalist had publicly accused him of large-scale corruption and state embezzlement on his radio show. A former intelligence officer, Justin Danwe, reportedly confessed that he and others carried out the torture and killing on Belinga’s orders, even claiming that Belinga personally participated in the assault at one of his construction sites and paid US$ 60,000 for the operation.
Despite these serious allegations, the defence for Savom insists the focus is being shifted unduly to him, potentially enabling the original suspects including Belinga, to escape justice. They demand that the public and media treat with caution any unverified claims, and trust the judicial process to establish the truth based on evidence.
The Zogo case continues to stir controversy in Cameroon. Observers say the unfolding trial still involving many accused, including high-level intelligence officials remains one of the country’s most consequential attempts in recent years to hold powerful figures accountable for crimes against journalists.
