CAMEROUN-MALAISE CARDIAQUE DU MAGISTRAT AYAH PAUL AU SED

Despite claims by the Minister of Communication that detainees arrested in the wake of the crisis rocking the North West and South West regions have access to health care, Justice Ayah Paul Abine’s family says he has not been authorised to meet his cardiologist.

In a declaration that has been circulating on the social media since Tuesday February 21, the family of the Deputy Attorney General of the Supreme Court of Cameroon has lamented that Justice Ayah Paul Abine is sick.

It said Ayah has suffered another malaise in his detention at SED “possibly owing to the shortage in air circulation.”

The family said authorities are yet to permit Ayah to meet his cardiologist as recommended by the latter on January 25 that he be brought for a comprehensive medical check-up on his heart condition.

 

The release said Ayah who was arrested on January 21 is held under deplorable detention conditions.

“The Ayah family wishes to remind the authorities again that Ayah Paul needs to be alive and in good physical and mental condition t ably defend himself against whatever he is being held for,” the release signed for and on the behalf of the family by A.A.A. said.

In a media outing to update public opinion on the judicial proceedings against some persons accused following the recent uprising in the South West and North West Regions, the Minister of Communication said out of the 82 people who were arrested, 21 were subsequently released.

Issa Tchiroma Bakary said those being held in cells enjoy the right to defence—the right to be assisted by their counsels, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code.

“They also enjoy access rights and access to health care,” he said.

Yet the statement by the Ayah family seems to be contrary to the government spokesperson’s claims. It said Ayah who was arrested about a month ago is yet to be officially charged for any crime offence.

The statement by the family of the Supreme Court Judge was published on the eve of the solemn opening of the 2017 judicial year by the judicial institution.

Members of the judicial family representatives of other corps in the country are expected to attend the solemn opening session of the Supreme Court in Yaounde on Wednesday February 22 to officially open the 2017 judicial year in the country.

The Seat of Justice Ayah Paul Abine One of Supreme Courts Advocate General will be empty this Wednesday February 22, 2017 as the new judicial year opens.

The Advocate General at the Supreme Court was ‘kidnapped’ last month at his residence in Yaoundé and ferried to the State Defense Secretariat, SED.

There have been no charges yet on him as sources say it is very difficult to levy any against him talk less of judging him given that he is one of the supreme Judges in Cameroon and need to be judged only by someone superior to him.

Opinions are rife that Ayah Paul was ‘kidnapped’ by the regime to weaken the system fighting for the restoration of the Southern Cameroon State. It is alleged that Ayah Paul is one of the brains behind the struggle.

The 2017 Judicial years also opens within the context of an over four months old strike action initiated by Common law lawyers in Cameroon. Courts have been grounded since October as the Anglophone Lawyers demand the redeployment of Civil Law Magistrates to Civil Law zones and Common Law Magistrates to Common Law zones, they are also asking the creation of a special department at the Supreme Court to hear cases in the Common law domain, the creation of Common Law department in the National School of Administration and Magistracy, ENAM.

The new judicial year also opens within the context of the adoption of the Penal Code in June 2016 by Parliamentarians.

Today’s ceremony takes place according to article 33 sub 1 of law 2006/016 of 29 December 2006 on the organization and functioning of the Supreme Court.

By Wilson MUSA