SCNC activist’s case adjourned to December 4

The trial of Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC activist, Maxwell Oben, has been adjourned to December 4, 2014.

Maxwell Oben was arrested and detained prior to President Biya’s visit to Buea for the 50th anniversary celebration of Cameroon’s Reunification.

The activist has been in detention for 10 months now and is being tried by two courts; the Military Tribunal and the Buea Appeal Court. He was charged with initiating civil war, holding illegal meetings and disturbing public peace.

Equally arrested during that build-up to the Reunification celebration were Theodore Leke, Gwanyalla Clevis Dinga and groups of youths, in Kumba, Ekona, Muyuka, Mutengene and Buea, who were accused of plotting to disrupt President Biya’s visit for the event.

Maxwell Oben was arrested and first ferried into detention in Yaounde. He was later transferred to Buea to face the Military Tribunal. The Military Court sentenced him to one year in prison renewable.

His battery of lawyers led by Barrister Stanislaus Ajong, President of the Fako Lawyer’s Association, has requested for the Military Tribunal to forward proceedings of Oben’s trial in that Court, to the High Court, to no avail.

SCNC activists question why Oben was tried and sentenced in a Military Court when he is not a military man.

The trial has however, suffered nine adjournments, but, all through, the Military Court has refused to hand over the initial proceedings to the Appeal Court.

Reacting to the ongoing, a fellow SCNC activist, Theodore Leke, asserted: “From all indications, they want Oben to die in prison.”

Mola Njoh Litumbe, one of the leaders of the movement stated: “I am disappointed with the Government of La Republique du Cameroun and its judicial system, which claims to be democratic, but does not take into consideration human rights.”

Mathias Besong Arrey, another activist averred: “We are surprised that even the judiciary is powerless. We expected it to play its role. It is important that Southern Cameroonians follow this case.