Detained SCNC activist’s health reportedly failing

Maxwell Oben, arrested since February 2, 2014, has complained of failing health due to prison conditions at the Buea Central Prison.

Maxwell Oben has ascribed his deteriorating health to the deplorable conditions in the Buea Prison, which has about 780 inmates for a facility build to hold less than 300 inmates.

“I sleep on bare floor. The food comprises porridge plantains and rice with watery groundnut soup,” he lamented.

Theodore Leke who visited Oben on August 22, on behalf of the SCNC, described Oben as “in bad shape.”

Leke observed that, in spite of press reports on the inhuman treatment Oben is facing, human rights institutions have virtually ignored his plight.

Hon Paul Ayah who also visited Oben on August 22, corroborated the deplorable prison conditions.

Oben was arrested in Mile 17 Buea and taken to the Military Tribunal and charged with: holding illegal SCNC meetings, inciting civil war, destabilisation of the State of Cameroon and planning to disrupt the visit of President Paul Biya to Buea for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Reunification of the Southern Cameroons and the Republic of Cameroon in 1961.

Oben was ferried to Yaounde and detained at the Kondengui Maximum Security Prison for one month and later brought back to Buea and detained at the Central Prison. He was remanded by the military tribunal for one year renewable.

A battery of 10 lawyers led by Barrister Stanislaus Ajong, President of Fako Lawyers Association, FAKLA, filed an appeal in the High Court in Buea on behalf of Oben but the matter could not be heard as the court requested proceedings from the military tribunal but the tribunal has failed to produce them.

The matter has suffered 10 adjournments in the High Court and three in the military tribunal. Ajong posits that Oben is standing trial in two courts yet there is no headway.

Leke argues that remanding Oben for one year renewable means the powers that be have plans for Oben to die in prison.

In a related story, Leke and Arrey Mathias and tens of others who were arrested and detained in Mamfe where they went to give SCNC National Chairman, Chief Ayamba Ette Otun were lately released.

The State Counsel of Mamfe refused to sign the release warrant on grounds that he did not order their arrest and detention, but let them go. The State Counsel expounded that he is supposed to sign an arrest warrant before action is taken by security forces.