Biya summons minister Beti Assomo over Martinez Zogo case
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Camer
Cameroonian President Paul Biya summoned Defence Minister Joseph Beti Assomo to ask him for explanations about his alleged contacts in the case of journalist Martinez Zogo’s murder. The meeting reportedly concerned exchanges with businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, according to Jeune Afrique and several sources cited by Camer.
Cameroonian President Paul Biya summoned Joseph Beti Assomo, minister delegate for defence, to ask him for explanations about his alleged contacts in the case of the murder of journalist Martinez Zogo. The meeting, held at Etoudi Palace at the beginning of the week, notably concerned two audio recordings and direct contact with imprisoned businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, reports Jeune Afrique.
In a first recording lasting more than 11 minutes, Lieutenant-Colonel Ayissi Nanga Parfait, a key witness in the case, speaks with Martin Savom, who is himself being prosecuted in the case. The officer expresses his fear of being called as a witness and refers to the alleged anger of Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, secretary-general of the presidency. Jeune Afrique also reports that Martin Savom mentions efforts aimed at securing a release and attributes to the defence minister the intention of waiting until the end of the witness hearings.
Martinez Zogo, a Cameroonian journalist, was abducted on 17 January 2023 in Yaoundé. His mutilated body was found five days later in Ebogo III. Judicial authorities are continuing their investigation into the case, while the authenticity of the recordings reported by Jeune Afrique has not been established by the magazine.
The summons came after the arrest and subsequent release of Ayissi Nanga Parfait, announced on 20 October. It extends the recent developments in the Martinez Zogo case, in which Colonel Otoulou had already been questioned again on 14 September.
