Olive Ejang Tebug Ngoh & Peterkins Manyong
3 October 2008
The Social Democratic Front, SDF, National Executive Committee, NEC, has resolved to fight for Pierre Roger Lambo Sandjo aka Lapiro's release.
Meeting in Bamenda, Sunday, 28, it instructed SDF lawyers, Augustine Mbam, and others to apply for bail. They said the musician has the right to bail.It was generally agreed that the musician was framed up by the Biya regime to nail him for obvious reasons.
These include the fact that the musician has been raining vitriolic criticisms at the regime's anti-corruption policy.Lapiro's decision to contest the 2007 municipal elections on the ticket of the SDF was another reason for the regime's determination to nail him.
The opportunity came during last February's uprising in five provinces.NEC said when the youths of Mbanga were demonstrating, the plotters invited Lapiro to calm them.While he was speaking to the demonstrators, a picture was taken, which was later tendered in court with the claim that Lapiro was instructing the youths to go on the rampage.
NEC attributed the jailing of Lapiro to Marafa Hamidou Yaya's failure to prove that a criminal from New Bell Prison was seen in Fru Ndi's car, apparently helping the SDF Chairman to coordinate the February strike.
According to NEC, Lapiro was victimized due to the impossibility of implicating his chairman.
On Wednesday, September 24, the Moungo High Court in Nkongsamba found Lapiro de Mbanga, guilty of inciting violence in Mbanga.
He was slammed a three-year sentence behind bars for causing violence that led to the destruction to public and private property.The ace musician, however, has not taken the sentence lying down. His lawyers have appealed the judgement.
Barrister Augustine Mbami, Rene Manfo and two others filed the appeal at the Littoral Court of Appeal in Douala.Speaking to The Post on phone, Barrister Manfo said the judgement was an insult to the Cameroonian judiciary and they want justice to take its due course.
Manfo said sentencing Lapiro for three years in prison and fining him FCFA 280 million was unbearable.He said by appealing, they want Lapiro set free and the fine cancelled.The barrister hoped that the matter would commence soonest, for justice to be seen to be done on Lapiro.
In the meantime, Mbanga inhabitants have received the news of Lapiro's imprisonment with much vexation. Some say they are planning a street demonstration for government to liberate the musician.
Marie Therese Nsefui, a businesswoman, said Lapiro's imprisonment has given a negative impression of Mbanga to the outside world.She said from the bogus testimonies of witnesses, the imprisonment and fine slammed on Lapiro, portrayed jealousy and political blackmail.
"We were hoping that with Lapiro's popularity, he would one day become our mayor. But imprisoning him would tantamount to destroying his political carrier," said the woman.
Richard Mbeng, a driver, urged President Paul Biya to sign a decree for the release of Lapiro just as he did to other detainees connected to the February strike.
Mbeng lamented that by freeing others and imprisoning Lapiro is a way of inviting Cameroonians to the street, whose effect would be dangerous.But a certain Jean Marie Ngonou said he was happy with the judgement because it would deter other Cameroonians from indulging in strikes and destructive demonstrations.
The NEC members have also resolved to prove that the SDF chieftain played no part in Gregoire Diboule's murder.They say they are determined to win the Douala V, Bana and Bafang councils in the re-runs come October 26.It was agreed that Fru Ndi would personally campaign in all three council areas including Bafang where the list leader is Hon. Pierre Kwemo.
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