The ongoing trial regarding the murder of Martinez Zogo, a prominent Cameroonian radio host whose lifeless body was discovered in January 2023 following severe violence, advanced significantly on June 1, 2026, in Yaoundé. A chilling video depicting the journalist in a state of distress was unveiled, revealing him bleeding and pleading for help. This disturbing footage was recovered from the digital files of one of the defendants.
On that same Monday, proceedings at the Yaoundé military court focused on the testimony of Professor Georges Bell Bitjocka, a digital forensics expert tasked with analyzing the contents of the accused individuals’ mobile devices.
Among the evidence presented were multiple screenshots and, most notably, the first public airing of a video showing Martinez Zogo enduring torture. The footage captured the victim, his hands bound behind his back, with blood streaming from an ear and his face visibly injured, desperately calling out for assistance.
Overwhelming emotions grip the courtroom
The harrowing images left the courtroom in stunned silence, with several attendees visibly moved to tears. Ludovic Zabze, legal representative for Amplitudes FM—the radio station where Martinez Zogo worked—shared his raw reaction: «As the video ended, I turned away. I looked at the accused, and even they appeared devastated. The emotional weight of this moment is overwhelming.»
The incriminating video was discovered within the Google account of Godje Oumarou, one of the defendants and a member of the alleged execution squad.
Further revelations emerged during the session, including a conversation held on the evening of January 17, 2023. In this exchange, Justin Danwe—then Director of Operations at Cameroon’s External Intelligence Directorate—directed an accomplice to «capture images of the mouse», a coded reference to Martinez Zogo.
Addressing the court, Séri Zokou, attorney for Maxime Eko Eko—the former head of the External Intelligence Directorate—contended that there was «no connection whatsoever between his client and the alleged crimes». He emphasized: «The phone data in question was submitted to both the joint investigation commission and the investigating judge. Our client’s name never surfaced in relation to this case.»
Professor Georges Bell Bitjocka also confirmed that he had examined the devices of other key defendants, including Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, Bruno Bidjang, and Martin Savom.
Calvin Job, legal counsel for Martinez Zogo’s family, asserted: «If the court relies on this forensic report, it would already have resolved 98% of the case.»
Recounting the tragic events
On the morning of January 22, 2023, Cameroonians were met with the grim news of the discovery of Martinez Zogo’s body. The 51-year-old radio personality, whose real name was Arsène Salomon Mbani Zogo, was a beloved figure in Yaoundé’s media landscape. Known for his morning radio show «Embouteillages», he fearlessly criticized societal issues and powerful figures in Cameroon—though notably spared the president, Paul Biya, from his critiques.
Martinez Zogo had been abducted on the evening of January 17, 2023, and his body was later found abandoned in a remote area approximately 25 kilometers from the capital. His remains bore unmistakable signs of brutal mistreatment.
Concluding the judicial inquiry, Colonel-Magistrate Pierrot Narcisse Nzie, the military judge overseeing the case, referred 17 defendants—all currently in custody—to trial. The accused included Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, former director of the External Intelligence Directorate; Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Danwe, ex-Director of Operations at the same agency; Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, head of the L’Anecdote media group; and Stéphane Martin Savom, a local mayor and administrative official from the Central region of Cameroon.
The trial, which had been delayed by procedural hurdles, commenced on March 25, 2024, at the Yaoundé military court. Substantive hearings began on September 1, 2025, focusing on charges of murder, torture, kidnapping, and unlawful detention.