If Ahmed Abba is found innocent, he will regain his freedom - Tchiroma

Ahmed Abba, a freelance Hausa correspondent of RFI in Maroua, in Northern Cameroon, was arrested by the police on July 30, 2015.

He has since been transferred to Yaoundé and would be interrogated as part of an investigation into the activities of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in Northern Cameroon. RFI has instructed a lawyer, a barrister Charles Tchoungang, to assist him.

The Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said that after Ahmed’s arrest he spoke to RFI journalists about their correspondents. "We will maintain cordial relations with RFI. After the arrest of this journalist for investigation purposes, I had to speak with journalists from RFI. This correspondent however, does not accept that his name be associated directly or indirectly to any terrorism," he suggested at the press conference.

RFI requested access to his file on August 30. "For now, we are in the investigation phase. Let the defense and security forces, the civilian and military justice continue the investigations. If this gentleman is found innocent, he will gain his freedom,” insisted the minister of communications.

Mr. Charles Tchoungang said on RFI on August 30 that, "He (Ahmed Abba) has been held incommunicado and is investigated by an organization whose mission is under the state of war, which is Cameroon."

The barrister recalled that "Cameroon has been at war for many months and this issue is very sensitive in Cameroon because many civilians have lost their lives and many soldiers killed at the front. So consequently, it is a matter of state security. Whatever the suspicions against him, it is normal under the rule of law in Cameroon to ensure that we get justice until he is referred to the courts which will have to make things clear."