A guilty verdict has been delivered for Franck Derlin Eyono Ebanga, the former Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) of the Lokoundje Division, accused of the murder of his companion, 23-year-old student Lydienne Solange Taba. The investigating judge of the Ebolowa Military Tribunal declared him guilty after a thorough analysis of the presented evidence.
This case, which has shaken public opinion since July 2020, has finally resulted in a crucial decision. SDO Eyono Ebanga has been found guilty of the murder of his companion, a tragic act that deeply affected the city of Kribi and beyond.
In a recent hearing, the court ruled on the guilt of the accused, citing the use of a firearm in this fatal act. Despite apologies to the victim’s family, the judgment confirmed Eyono Ebanga’s conviction for this crime.
The case has stirred significant emotions, especially considering that the suspect seemed to have enjoyed relative freedom, staying in a hotel in the region while the case was pending before the court. Revelations about his judicial surveillance ordered by the investigating judge have raised questions about his status and have been associated with criticism of a possible violation of the law.
The deliberation on civil interests scheduled for March 6, 2024, marks an additional step in this case. This date is awaited with particular attention as the final decision on the financial and civil implications of this murder will be rendered.
This verdict comes after years of proceedings, relieving some of the anticipation and opening a new phase in this case, hinting at an imminent conclusion to this tragedy that has shaken the city of Kribi.
Three years ago, a 23-year-old pregnant student, Lydienne Solange Taba, from the University of Douala, was shot at point-blank range by her lover, Mr. Ebanga Eyono, former SDO of the Lokoundje near Kribi.
It took an outcry from the Cameroonian people, both domestically and in the diaspora, for the killer, rumored to have connections at the presidential level, to be summoned by military justice. Even though he was left free to move, questions linger about the handling of the case by the judicial system.
