Moussa Njoya: Martinez Zogo Judicial Strategy Aims to Conceal Truth

• Political analyst Moussa Njoya alleges an orchestrated strategy to suppress the truth in the Martinez Zogo assassination case.
• Njoya claims judicial officers pursuing leads involving a "second commando" and high-ranking officials face coordinated attacks and removal.
• Tactics include false corruption accusations, biased media reports, and opposition from some civil party lawyers.
• The case has seen an unprecedented turnover of three investigating judges and two government commissioners in three years.
• The recent transfer of Lieutenant-Colonel Cerlin Belinga, now Vice-President and Investigating Judge at the Maroua Military Tribunal, is cited as evidence of this strategy, linked to expert testimony.

In just three years, the investigation into Martinez Zogo's assassination has seen three different investigating judges and two government commissioners assigned to it.

Political analyst Moussa Njoya has publicly asserted that a deliberate and orchestrated strategy is underway to conceal the truth surrounding the assassination of journalist Martinez Zogo. Njoya, who has closely observed the case for nearly three and a half years, contends that various actors are working to manipulate the judicial process, transforming the trial into a platform for political maneuvering rather than a pursuit of justice. His conclusion stems from a meticulous review of the proceedings, particularly noting recent shifts within the prosecutor's office.

This assertion gained prominence following the sudden transfer of Lieutenant-Colonel Cerlin Belinga, now Vice-President and Investigating Judge at the Maroua Military Tribunal, a move Njoya views as a critical indicator of the alleged strategy. According to Njoya, the overarching goal is to ensure that both the Cameroonian public and the international community never fully uncover the truth behind Zogo's death. He describes an implacable strategy designed to remove any judicial officer who dares to pursue certain sensitive investigative leads.

Njoya details a multi-pronged approach allegedly employed against magistrates who explore specific avenues of inquiry. He highlights that any judicial officer who even suggests the possibility of a "second commando" having completed Martinez Zogo's assassination and subsequently moved his body to the discovery site—a location the medical examiner identified as a "secondary crime scene"—faces immediate and coordinated opposition. This alleged strategy intensifies when such investigations touch upon names like Minister of State Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh and the former Director of Taxes.

The tactics reportedly include attacks from individuals identified as "whistleblowers," who are said to launch false corruption accusations against these magistrates. Simultaneously, these same actors allegedly multiply publications and livestreams aimed at exonerating the Secretary-General of the Presidency (SG/PR) and the former Director of Taxes, even before any formal accusations have been made against them. Furthermore, certain journalists are accused of vilifying magistrates through biased reports and analyses, with some long-dormant newspapers reportedly resurfacing specifically to discredit the magistrate in question and any alternative investigative theories, while simultaneously advocating for the SG/PR and the former Director of Taxes.

The alleged strategy extends even to legal representatives, with Njoya claiming that some civil party lawyers, despite their presumed role in seeking clarity, bitterly attack magistrates pursuing these sensitive leads. These lawyers are reportedly observed acting pro bono for the SG/PR and the former Director of Taxes. Njoya asserts that these three categories of actors—"whistleblowers," certain journalists, and specific civil party lawyers—then coalesce to threaten and discredit anyone who contradicts their "truncated or invented" versions of events.

As an example, Njoya points to a civil party lawyer who reportedly contacted RFI to accuse its correspondent of corruption, simply because the journalist had included the perspective of one of Amougou Belinga's lawyers in a report. This incident, Njoya suggests, underscores a demand for exclusive control over the narrative. The ultimate outcome of this coordinated campaign, according to Njoya, is the summary dismissal of the targeted magistrate. He notes that military magistrates, unlike their civilian counterparts, do not require the Superior Council of Magistracy for their removal, facilitating such actions.

The impact of this alleged Moussa Njoya Martinez Zogo judicial strategy is starkly illustrated by the unprecedented turnover of judicial personnel involved in the case. In just three years, the investigation into Martinez Zogo's assassination has seen three different investigating judges and two government commissioners assigned to it. This level of judicial rotation, Njoya emphasizes, is unparalleled in the history of military justice in Cameroon, raising significant concerns about Cameroon judicial independence and the integrity of high-profile investigations.

Njoya specifically links the "misfortunes" of Lieutenant-Colonel Cerlin Belinga, whose transfer was a catalyst for Njoya's public statements, to a particular moment in the proceedings. He observes that Belinga's difficulties began following the testimony of experts Bell Bitdjocka and Oloumou, who appeared before the court. While the exact content of their testimony is not fully detailed, Njoya implies it was pivotal in triggering the subsequent actions against Belinga, further fueling suspicions of Martinez Zogo truth suppression.

This article exposes concerns about judicial independence and the integrity of high-profile investigations in Cameroon, particularly regarding the alleged manipulation and removal of judicial officers pursuing sensitive leads. Lawyers and compliance officers should note the potential for external pressures to influence judicial outcomes and the implications for due process and the rule of law in politically charged cases.

Source: Original reporting via Actu Cameroun