Let me die in jail, not in hospital - Marafa

Marafa: Let me die in Jail, not in prison

Cameroon's famous ‘Political Prisoner’, Marafa Hamidou Yaya, now wants to be taken out of the Yaoundé Hospital Teaching Centre ( CHU).

According to Marafa’s Lawyer, Professor Ndiva Kofele Kale, “...Marafa has decided to return to his cramped, humid and windowless cell in the so-called secondary prison in the National Secretariat for Defense (SED) because the doctors at CHU have not been able to diagnose his ailment much less treat him.”

His lawyer, Ndiva Kofele-Kale, took time off from grieving the loss of his nephew, to travel to Yaoundé to see his client last week.

He told Cameroon Headlines that he found “the famous patient exactly where he left him the week earlier. One major difference was the increased number of armed gendarmes and other security details guarding him, numbering close to 50.”

 Marafa, according to his counsel, questioned his continued stay at the hospital and worried about the possibility of exposure to other diseases.

Marafa is quoted as saying that since President Biya has elected to brush aside his lawyer's appeal to have him evacuated to the American Hospital in Paris for expert diagnosis and specialist care, he prefers to return to SED and leave his fate in the hands of the Almighty! 

The former minister’s fast deteriorating health condition is now becoming a real cause for concern to the authorities especially following the death of another minister, Catherine Abena, former Secretary of State for Secondary Education, who died some months ago while in prison. Her death was not taken kindly to by her kinsmen and women. If Marafa suffers a similar fate, apparently the reactions would not only be widespread but could be more intense and a huge blow to the country’s image.

A source hinted that Marafa ‘s counsel had official lodged a request to move Marafa abroad for proper treatment, but no response has been got.

Marafa rushed back to hospital!

- His condition is very critical and we are really afraid - Lawyer

Marafa

Cameroon Headlines, Yaounde, July 23 – Former Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Marafa Hamidou Yaya was rushed back to the University of Yaounde I Medical School Teaching Hospital, CHU yesterday evening, Wednesday July 23 barely two weeks after he was discharged from the same hospital.

In a telephone chat with The Journal

at about 6pm on Wednesday, July 23, Professor Ndiva Kofele Kale told The Journal, in a very grievous tone that “the situation is very bad” but that he could not say anything further.

According to our sources the former MINATD boss was accompanied to the hospital by a mixed squadron of security operatives led by a gendarmerie captain.

The former minister’s fast deteriorating health condition is now becoming a real cause for concern to the authorities especially following the death of another minister, Catherine Abena, former Secretary of State for Secondary Education, who died some months ago while in prison. Her death was not taken kindly to by her kinsmen and women. If Marafa suffers a similar fate, apparently the reactions would not only be widespread but could be more intense and a huge blow to the country’s image.

It should be recalled following the intense international lobbying of his Lead Counsel, Professor Ndiva Kofele, some governments especially that the US are now considering Marafa as a political prisoner and not a criminal law convict, a stance the imminent professor has maintained all along. 

Lead Defence Counsel of the former MINATD boss, Professor Ndiva Kofee Kale confirmed the report that the former minister violently took ill on Monday, June 30 and was rushed to CHU

Speaking to The Journal when Marafa crashed again on Monday. June 30, 2014, the legal guru said “Marafa has been suffering from numerous ailments including cardio-vascular problems, eyes etc”. These illnesses, he continued, “have been aggravated by horrific prison conditions to the point where the former minister’s may lose his eyesight”.

On the care being administered to Marafa at the hospital, Prof Kale intimated that so far the care is acceptable and added that he had to make sure the cardiologist is a sound one. He also noted that the Director of the hospital has been passing around to make sure everything is in order. Professor Kale praised the doctors and nurses at the hospital who are putting in their best in a very degraded working environment. He decried the appalling conditions in the hospital considered a flagship medical establishment in the country noting that the whole place smells due to lack of water.

On the safety and security of Marafa, Professor Kale who has mounted a three-pronged strategy to get his client released said he and the family have stepped up vigilance to make sure nothing happens to the former minister especially as his long-time private secretary, Mme Soppo died mysteriously a few months back. On what has been put in place Prof. Kale declined to comment further.

Similarly when quizzed on the results of his legal and diplomatic actions he has engaged to get his client released, he said all has been done and their fingers have been kept crossed.

Marafa Hamidou Yaya was slammed a 25-year jail term alongside Yves Michel Fotso and others in the early hours of Saturday, September 22, 2012 over charges of embezzlement involving the BBJ-2 presidential jet.

Marafa in critical health!

- Convicted former MINATD boss in critical condition at Yaounde University Teaching Hospital

-Family, lawyer step up vigilance following mysterious death of private secretary to former MINATD boss

Marafa Hamidou Yaya, Cameroon's ex-Interior Minister

Former minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Marafa Hamidou Yaya, who is serving a 25-year sentence slammed on him in 2012, has once again succumbed to failing health and has been lying critically ill at the University of Yaounde I Medical School Teaching Hospital, known in French as CHU.
Lead Defence Counsel of the former MINATD boss, Professor Ndiva Kofele Kale, confirmed the report in a telephone chat with The SUN newspaper last Thursday, July 3.Professor Kale told The SUN that the former minister violently took ill early last week and was rushed to CHU.
On the details of his client’s illness, the legal guru said Marafa has been suffering from numerous ailments including cardio-vascular problems, eyes etc. These illnesses, he continued, have been aggravated by horrific prison conditions to the point where the former minister may lose his eyesight.
Even before his arrest and detention, the former minister had been nursing problems with his eyes and it is said that the president gave him an authorization to travel to France and undergo surgery at the American University Hospital but he turned down the offer insisting that a lot was circulating around about his imminent arrest and wanted to stay in the country and clear himself. This was before he was dropped from government.

He decried the appalling conditions in the hospital considered a flagship medical establishment in the country, noting that “the whole place smells due to lack of water”.
On the safety and security of Marafa, Professor Kale who has mounted a three-pronged strategy to get his client released, said he and the family has stepped up vigilance to make sure nothing happens to the former minister especially as his long-time private secretary, Mme Soppo, died mysteriously a few months back. On what has been put in place, Prof. Kale declined to comment further. It should be noted that the former minister is under strict security surveillance at the hospital with two military outfits viz the gendarmerie and the GPEIN keeping vigil and tracking his movements wherever he goes in the hospital including when he carries out laboratory tests.
Similarly, when quizzed on the results of his legal and diplomatic actions he has engaged to get his client released, he said all has been done and their fingers have been kept crossed.
As we early Monday morning, the former minister was still under observation with the possibility that he may regain his prison cell any time soon.
It should be recalled that Marafa Hamidou Yaya was slammed a 25-year jail term alongside Yves Michel Fotso and others in the early hours of Saturday, September 22, 2012 over charges of embezzlement involving the BBJ-2 presidential jet. This is not the first time the former minister’s health has deteriorated critically in detention as a result of the very poor detention conditions.
On the care being administered to Marafa at the hospital, Prof Kale intimated that so far the care is acceptable and added that he had to make sure the cardiologist is a sound one. He also noted that the Director of the hospital has been passing around to make sure everything is in order. Professor Kale praised the doctors and nurses at the hospital who are putting in their best in a much degraded working environment.