Why business man/politician, Ngala Gerald “jailed” journalist Wawa Jackson – CPJ report

Freelance journalist Wawa Jackson Nfor has witnessed his trial adjourned over thirty times at the high court in Nkambe, Donga Mantung Division in the North West region of Cameroon. Wawa Nfor has been in detention for 19 month.

The former worker of Abakwa FM in Bamenda was arrested without warrant on his way to Bamenda from his Tabenken village in Donga Mantung on May 15th 2018. He is accused of publishing secessionist information and threatening a politician and business man Ngala Gerald. A complaint was filed on the 21st of June 2018 by the court according to his lawyer Ngwang Shey.

Latest report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says Wawa Jackson Nfor’s pretrial detention follows his publications of news focusing on the activities of separatist fighters in Donga Mantung division on his facebook page called “Wawanews”.

On his detention conditions, CPJ explains that Wawa Jackson Nfor is detained in a tiny room without a bed, toilet or a chair in the Nkambe Principal prison.

The defence lawyer and family members say the prosecutor is not showing any seriousness to render judgment soon. Coupled with insecurity and weekly ghost town observation in Nkambe, “the trial is witnessing severe delay,” says Bar. Ngwang Shey, defending the freelance journalist.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), talked to Patrick Engola (then divisional officer of Nkambe sub division) on his alleged involvement in the detention of the journalist but the administrator denied any such accusation. A similar claim was advanced by the politician and business man Ngala Gerald.

At the moment, applications for bail have been turned down several times while Cameroon’s minister of communication has not responded to text messages from CPJ for him to comment on the detention of the journalist.

Mimi Mefo Info