Jailed SCNC leader to appear in court Tuesday

Oben Maxwell, Southern Cameroons National Council’s, SCNC activist, who is currently under detention at the Buea Central Prison will appear before the South West Court of Appeal on Tuesday.

Oben who is SCNC Yaoundé chapter leader and National Coordinator of the Southern Cameroons Youth League, SCYL will be made to answer charges of attempts to incite a civil war and possession of arms. Such were the charges labelled against him by the Buea military tribunal after his arrest on February 2, 2014 in Buea.

Oben, however, told our reporter on December 28, 2014 when he lastly appeared before the Tribunal, that when he was presented to the examining magistrate of the tribunal, the latter asked him just two questions: “Have you ever operated a gun”? Answer: No. “Are you an SCNC activist”? Answer: Yes. The judge then proceeded to put him on one year of pre-trial detention, renewable.

But Oben also disclosed to The Journal that the Buea judge declared his incompetence to hear his matter. “I have here with me a written statement by the examining magistrate of the Military Tribunal declaring that the court is incompetent to hear the matter because they found me innocent of all the charges against me.”

He lamented that his condition in the prison is worse than that of a dog. “It’s been more than six months now and I no longer eat food prepared for prisoners because what they prepare here for prisoners is worse than what people prepare for their pigs.”

He regretted that the over ten lawyers who were advocating for his freedom at no cost since his arrest have all withdrawn because of financial difficulties.

“Except for Barristers Ajong Stanislaus and Nkeng Emmanuel who are still behind me, every other counsel has withdrawn because I don’t have the financial means to foot their bills,” lamented the SCNC vanguard.

Oben who has already spent one year in prison was arrested prior to the 50th reunification anniversary celebrations in Buea by elements of the Territorial Security on February 2, 2014.

Eyes are now turned on the Buea Appeal court to determine the fate of the SCNC activist.