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The team of lawyers representing Nigerian professors detained in Cameroon have decried their prolonged incarceration.
The detained professors are Sisiku Julius Ayuke Tabe, Shufai Blaise Sevidzem Berinyuy, Prof. Awasum Augustine Cheh ,Dr Henry Tata Kimeng, Barr Eyambe Elias EBAI ,Dr Cornelius Kwanga Njikimbi, Dr. Fidelis Ndeh Nche ,Dr Egbengu Ogork, Mr. Nfor Ngala Nfor and Mr. Tassang Wilfred Forbang.
A statement issued Thursday by Joseph Awah Fru, on behalf of the lawyers representing the detained professors, noted that the delay in releasing the professors was highlighted at the recent hearing of the public petitions committee in the National Assembly.
The statement noted that the committee chairman had pledged to explore further legal actions, including contacting the Solicitor General, to address the delays.
The lawyers blamed the delay on the non-appearance of crucial officials from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Cameroonian High Commissioner, the UNHCR Coordinator, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and relevant officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The prolonged detention of Nigerian professors in Cameroon has encountered significant delays owing to the non-appearance of crucial officials from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Cameroonian High Commissioner, the UNHCR Coordinator, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the statement said.
The legal team recalled that the Federal High Court in Abuja, in its judgment No FHC/ABJ/CS/85/2018 dated March 1, 2019, and the UN Human Rights Committee’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) in its Communication 59/2022 on October 14, 2022, have both called for the release and compensation of the detainees.
“The presence of the absent officials is critical to ensuring transparency and allowing them to present their side of the story.”
The legal team expressed concern that despite these rulings, the professors remain in custody.
