Yaounde court adjourns case of Anglophone separatist leaders again.

The hearing before the Military Bench of the Centre Regional Court of Appeal was halted for minutes, due to the incomplete nature of the panel of judges.

Additionally, the defense counsel had raised strong objections over what they termed procedural flaws. The defense lawyers noted that official summonses were never served to the appellants, five days before appearance in court, as required by law. 

They said due to delays in serving the summons, two-third of their colleagues holding briefs for the accused persons could not attend Thursday’s session.

Last Thursday’s hearing came months after the Supreme Court had on March 19, 2026, in landmark decision, quashed the Centre Regional Court of Appeal judgment that upheld life sentences against Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and nine other Ambazonia leaders.

The decision then marked a major development in the long-running case of the group, known as the “Nera 10”. The Supreme Court hearing on March 19, 2026, was presided at by its President, Justice Abomo Marie Louise.

During the brief session, held in the early hours of the day, the tribunal quashed the September 18, 2020, judgment of the Centre Regional Court of Appeal, which had confirmed the life sentences, imposed on the ten separatist leaders, by the Yaounde Military Tribunal, on August 20, 2019. 

The court had resolved to send the matter back to the same appellate court for a different and properly constituted jury to hear the appeal of the separatist leaders afresh.

According to Senior Barrister Akere Muna, a member of the defence team, the Supreme Court did not examine the grounds raised by the appellants. 

In an outing on his verified Facebook account, Barrister Akere Muna explained that: “The Criminal Bench of the Judicial Division of the Supreme Court delivered its ruling in the appeal brought against the judgment of the Court of Appeal of the Centre Region by Sisiku Ayuk Tabe Julius and nine others, popularly known as the ‘Nera 10’”.

He continued that: “By way of background, in its initial judgment of 20 August 2019, the Yaoundé Military Tribunal found the appellants guilty of secession, terrorism, and hostility against the state, among other charges”.

“In addition to life sentences, the tribunal imposed substantial financial penalties, including a joint civil award of 250 billion FCFA and an additional 12 billion FCFA in costs,” Barrister Akere Muna added.

He recalled that “On appeal, the Court of Appeal of the Centre Region upheld the life sentences in September 2020”.

Akere then disclosed that in its Thursday’s decision, delivered under the presidency of internationally renowned Justice Marie Louise Abomo, the Supreme Court did not examine the grounds advanced by counsel for the appellants. 

He said: “Instead, it raised an issue suo moto [on its own initiative] and, on that basis, quashed the decision of the Court of Appeal of the Centre Region. The matter has been remitted to the same Court of Appeal, sitting with a differently constituted panel, to be reheard de novo”.

The former presidential candidate noted that by quashing the appellate decision and ordering a fresh hearing, the Supreme Court has effectively acknowledged that serious injustice tainted the proceedings before the Court of Appeal of Centre Region
Sisiku Ayuk Tabe Julius, and his co-accused, it should be recalled were initially convicted by the Yaounde Military Tribunal on August 20, 2019. They were convicted on charges including secession, terrorism and hostility against the state.
The separatist leaders were handed life sentences and ordered to pay significant financial penalties, including a joint civil award of 250 billion FCFA and an additional 12 billion FCFA in costs. The Court of Appeal of the Centre Region upheld the verdict in September 2020.

The group, popularly referred to as the “Nera 10,” derives its name from the Nera Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria, where they were arrested before being transferred to Cameroon to face trial.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3890 of Wednesday August 26, 2026