By Elah Geofrey M.
It has been about seven weeks, 48 days precisely since the leaders of the separatist movement and self-declared Federal Republic of Ambazonia were arrested in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Interim president of the self-declared republic, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe Julius and 10 of his close aides were arrested at the Nera Hostel, Abuja last January 25, during what their spokesperson, Chris Anu described as a routine meeting to discuss the fate of thousands of Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria who have fled the violence in the North West and South West regions.
Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe and 46 others were extradited at Cameroon’s request on January 26.
Self-proclaimed Interim President of Ambazonia Rep.
Since their arrest on January 25 till date, family members and their lawyers have decried the fact that they have not been able to see them or even talk to them.
In Cameroon, a group of lawyers, including Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor Balla and Barrister Bernard Muna tried to have access to them at the Gendarmerie headquarters, SED, where they are allegedly being held but were denied access.
The minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakari, speaking to Africanews TV yesterday reassured that the separatist leaders are doing well and their rights are being protected.
“We are in a country of law, they are doing well and their rights are being protected by the Criminal Procedure Code. They can access their lawyers”.
The governments of Cameroon and Nigeria came under scathing criticism after the separatist leaders were arrested and later transferred to Cameroon.
UNHCR said it learned “with great concern of the forced return” and that the extradition is “in violation of the principle of non-refoulement, which constitutes the cornerstone of international refugee law.”
Non-refoulement is the practice of not forcing refugees or asylum seekers to return to a country where they could be subjected to persecution. “The returns were carried out despite UNHCR’s efforts and engagement with the authorities,” the agency said in a statement.
One of the lawyers of the separatist leaders, Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN has been on the throat of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to cause the return of asylum seekers and Nigerian nationals amongst those being detained in Yaounde.