U.S pledges to support Wazizi’s lawyers in their quest for justice

The America embassy in Cameroon has announced it will give necessary support to the lawyers of Samuel Wazizi as they seek justice for the journalist who died 10 months ago under military custody.

Wazizi died on August 17, 2019 as revealed by Equinox TV and confirmed by the government, after he was arrested by the Muea Police and illegally transfered to the military, which then moved him to Yaounde where he will eventually die and his death kept a secret for close to 10 months.

In a letter addressed to the lawyers of the deceased Samuel Ajiekah Abuwe aka Wazizi, US ambassador H.E. Peter Barlerin confirmed he is closely following up the commitment made by the President of the Republic H.E. Paul Biya to the French ambassador to set up an independent enquiry commission to investigate the death of the Pidgin broadcaster.

Commenting about the threats that have been directed towards the lives of Wazizi’s lawyers of Wazizi seeking truth and justice, the ambassador said he has asked the embassy’s political officer to assist the legal personnel.

“Lawyers play an important role in upholding democratic value and protecting human rights,” he stated. “You should be able to continue to serve your clients in peace and security.”

Since the outing of the Ministry of defence through a communiqué giving government’s stance on the Wazizi case, there has been no major action taken and no further official statement by the government as to the way forward. The ministry of defence in its communiqué said contrary to popular opinion, Wazizi was never tortured and he simply died of severe sepsis at a military hospital. It also claimed the family of the deceased was informed about the demise of their son but they are yet to claim this corpse.

Most of the statements made by the communiqué have however been largely contradicted by the family and the press except for the fact that he died on the 17th of August 2019.

Mimi Mefo Info