Fako Lawyers HRC, CHRDA and Veritas Law Office to defend ‘General No Pity’s’ Ex-Girlfriend.

In a communique dated 15 October 2021, Barrister NKEA ALEAMBONG EMMANUEL, the lead defence counsel for Madam Kongnso Antoinette, Ex-Girlfriend of ‘General No Pity’, who was arrested and subsequently detained. It is worthy to note that she is 8month pregnant and she was assaulted and kicked in the stomach by Chief Moja Moja according to the communique below. The CHRDA had earlier notified that the case is a human rights violation according to the Cameroonian law and International Human Rights Law. below is the communique as originally published on CHRDA official website.

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MEDIA ADVISORY AND FACT SHEET ON THE ARREST AND MILITARY DETENTION OF MADAM KONGNSO ANTOINETTE GOHLA(FORMER PARTNER OF GENERAL NO PITY)

1. On Wednesday the 06th day of October 2021, we were consulted and constituted by Madam Brendaline Kongnso (Elder Sister of Kongnso Antoinette Gohla) to act as Legal Counsel for Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla with instructions as follows:

(a) That on Saturday the 02nd day of October 2021, at Sandpit, Buea Sub Division, a team of unidentified armed men led by a military officer popularly known in the Buea Municipality as Chief Moja Moja, stormed the residence of Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla, where they proceeded to mistreat and physically assault her in the full glare of her two kids before arresting her and her two kids into their waiting van.

(b) At the time of the assault and arrest, Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla, aged 31 years, was having a complicated 08 months pregnancy. Medical reports confirm that she may require a cesarean section to have her baby.

(c) When after she was arrested by Chief Moja Moja and his team, Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla and her two kids were paraded round the town before being taken to the Gendarmerie Legion, South West, Buea where they were received and detained by the South West Gendarmerie Legion Command.

(d) That during her detention at the South West Gendarmerie Legion Command, Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla was interrogated on her relationship with a certain “General No Pity” who is believed to be a leading separatist fighter.

(e) That, Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla, is a mother of two children, the second of them being the son of the said “General No Pity”. The first child was born long before Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla ever met and knew General No Pity.

(f) That, the said General No Pity abandoned Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla about four (04) ears ago after which she met and knew SIMAH CLOVIS with whom she lives in the same house and for whom she is currently pregnant for.

(g) Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla admitted that she once received a call from General No Pity on an unregistered number who sought to know about the wellbeing of their son, and a few minutes later she received the sum of XAF 100 000 believed to have been sent to her phone by General No Pity. She insists that this is the only time she has received a call and money from General No Pity.

2. That, upon the above facts, we proceeded to the South West Gendarmerie Legion Command on Thursday, 07 October 2021 to see and talk to our client (Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla), but the investigators refused to allow us either to see or talk to her. Rather, in a purported intimidating fashion, our identification details were recorded and we were informed that we will be contacted when it is necessary.

3. On Friday, 08 October 2021, without any recourse or notice to us, our client was produced before the Examining Magistrate of the Military Tribunal Buea, where she was swiftly remanded to prison custody awaiting conclusion of investigations.

4. On Wednesday, 13 October 2021, we filed a Memorandum of Appearance before the Examining Magistrate as required by law, notifying him that we are duly constituted as Legal Counsel for Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla. We equally made a formal

request for permission to visit Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla in custody, but this request was verbally turned down. Our application to be issued with a copy of the Holden Charge or reasons or her detention was also not granted.

5. On Thursday, 14 October 2021, we received in our Chambers SIMAH CLOVIS SHIYNUY who also informed us as follows:

(a) That he is the current partner of Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla with whom he lives in the same house, and he is the author of her current pregnancy.

(b) That when after he learned of the arrest of his partner, he went to the South West Gendarmerie Legion Command on the same day, where he met her badly bruised.

(c) That Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla informed him that she was seriously assaulted by Chief Moja Moja and his team and later paraded in town before being taken to the South West gendarmerie Legion Command.

(d) That while at the South West Gendarmerie Legion, and because his partner was suffering from excruciating pains from the assault from Chief Moja Moja and his team arrest, he allowed to stay in detention with Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla to provide her care and assistance.

(e) That while at the South West Gendarmerie Legion, he was not permitted to be present when statements were recorded from Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla. And she informed him that the statements were recorded in French without any interpretation into English language, even though Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla is not literate in French.

(f) That when he accompanied Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla to the Military Tribunal Buea, he was intimidated with a possible arrest by a Registrar called Bozize. This same Bozize also strangely alleged to him that General No Pity is the father of the two children and author of the pregnancy of Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla.

(g) That Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla is having a complicated pregnancy and from her most recent medicals, she is most likely to have a cesarean section.

6. That from the totality of the foregoing, we boldly state as follows:

(a) That on the date of her arrest Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla was brazenly abused and physically assaulted by Chief Moja Moja and his team, and this constitutes the criminal offence of torture and assault on a woman with child contrary to and punishable under sections 277-3 and 338 respectively of the Cameroon Penal Code.

(b) That from the date of her arrest Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla has been held incommunicado from her duly constituted lawyers by the Cameroon military.

(c) That the true reasons or charges on which Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla is being held by the military are not known either by her lawyers or family members.

(d) That this incommunicado detention of Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla constitutes a gross violation of her right inter alia to legal counsel of her choice, and casts serious doubts on the fairness of the entire investigation process. This includes fears of extracting involuntary incriminating statements from Madam Kongnso Antoinette Gohla.

(e) That the defence team, in collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa and Fako Lawyers Human Rights Commission shall be meeting in the hours ahead to review the legal options with a view to seek redress, including but not limited to, a criminal complaint against Chief Moja Moja and his team.

DATED AT VERITAS LAW OFFICES, P. O BOX 246 BUEA

THIS FRIDAY THE 15th DAY OF OCTOBER 2021

NKEA ALEAMBONG EMMANUEL (MRG)

LEAD DEFENCE COUNSEL