Journalists condemn fellow for detaining young publisher

Journalists in Cameroon as well as the Diaspora, have continued to condemn the decision taken by the Publisher of the Star Headlines, Nkemanyang Paul, who dragged Ndi Eugene Ndi, publisher of the News Watch Newspaper,to court, for allegations of defamation of character.

Both online and other social media have made very worrisome comments over the issue.

A majority of the comments condemn the act as wicked and lack of unity amongst journalists.

Solomon Amabo, a blogger from South Africa says Nkemanyang Paul has just lost all the respect he had for him.

Hilary Asong Nkemasong Junior said it is embarrassing that journalists prefer to wash their dirty linen in public.

Solomon Tembang in his own opinion feels that there is no reason to belong to a journalism association, if journalists cannot be protected; instead they are being dragged to court by their senior colleagues.

Another blogger wondered how the master of many presentations on Decriminalisation of journalist will be the first ever to drag a fellow publisher to court on criminal charges.

Paul Nkemayang who has been in the Profession for over 32 years and Ndi Eugene, an in-comer with only four years of experience, clashed after the last celebrations of World Press Freedom Day in Buea.

Nkemayang Paul accused Eugene Ndi and Franklin Sone Bayen of defaming his character after alleging that both published articles on their newspapers accusing him and John Mbah Akoru of siphoning money meant for the celebration of the world press freedom day on May 3, 2014, into their personal pockets.

The clash which according to many observers could have been resolved in a Journalism Association gathering ended up in the Limbe Court of First Instance on Wednesday July 30.

At the end of the in chambers session, Ndi Eugene Ndi was asked to pay the sum of FCFA 500,000 for his bail if not he would be detained till the next hearing billed for Wednesday August 6.

This provoked the Limbe based journalists who were later joined by others from Buea.

The journalists staged a protest walk in search for Nkemanyang Paul to appeal that he withdraws the case from court for settlement as a family.

He was spotted at a Limbe based snack bar alongside his reporters, friends and lawyers.

Addressing the over 20 journalists who had gathered to plead with Nkemanyang Paul, he said “ Where were you people when it all started; I will stop at nothing to send journalists to prison; I have nothing to do with you all; as a chief, I think I have respected you enough, you can now go.” He said and abandoned the reporters to their fate.

Ndi Eugene Ndi was only released from the Limbe Central Police Station the next day when the money was raised thanks to interventions of other colleagues and close friends.

We were ambushed- Barrister Arrey Collins Meanwhile the lead counsel for Ndi Eugene Ndi, Barrister Arrey Collins Ojong, told reporters later that he and his client were ambushed by the proceedings before the Examining Magistrate.

In a press briefing organised by the Limbe Chapter of CAMASEJ, he said, “As a matter of fact my client was served in Yaounde on July 25 for the matter to come up on July 30, and I was briefed only on July 29, one day before the first hearing day.”

Barrister Arrey Collins explained that when he saw the summon, he discovered that it was a Preliminary Inquiry before an examining magistrate, but while in court it had turned to a Private Prosecution.

According to the young and erudite advocate, “the law is sufficiently clear that, a summons served on an accused person or defendant must have full disclosure of the offence in question and the provision of the law contravened”.

Barrister Arrey Collins says that the summons served on Ndi Eugene Ndi had the defect as it failed to respect Article 41(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Barrister Arrey Collins said he realised that it was a Private Prosecution only when the charge was put to his client and more especially a civil claim attached to it, implying that it was a more serious issue.

“I had no choice than to apply for my client’s bail which he was granted though the condition was a very stringent one”.