In the ongoing Martinez Zogo case, the Yaoundé Military Tribunal convened on 16th and 17th February 2026 to continue hearing witness testimony, including evidence from three senior figures drawn from the principal operational divisions of the DGRE (Directorate General of External Research).
Their testimonies, consistent with the 22 witness accounts that preceded them, have established beyond reasonable doubt that the fatal operation carried out against the late Martinez Zogo was both irregular and unlawful. Furthermore, they confirmed that the operation was conducted without any instruction from the Director General, Mr Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, or from any other figure within the chain of command, that it made no use of the DGRE’s official resources, and that it was financed entirely by individuals with no connection whatsoever to the service.
More specifically, the three witnesses established the following:
As a precautionary measure to safeguard the interests of the service, former Director General Léopold Maxime Eko Eko had, on 12th November 2021, issued an internal directive placing all activities within the Directorate of Operations under the strict coordination and oversight of Mr James Elong Lobe, Technical Adviser No. 1 and former Director of Operations. As one witness made clear, this directive effectively stripped Lieutenant-Colonel Danwe of all coordinating authority, removing him entirely from any role in deploying the human and material resources of the Directorate of Operations.
The GTI — the Tactical Intervention Group, whose involvement is an absolute requirement for any service operation — was not contacted or brought in at any stage. Its commanding officer received no order or instruction from the Director General, from Technical Adviser No. 1, from any other superior, or indeed from Lieutenant-Colonel Danwe himself.
As regards equipment — specifically the firearm used and a service pick-up vehicle — witnesses established clearly that both items had been taken irregularly from a DGRE guard post on the outskirts of Yaoundé. One witness described this as an “underhand and fraudulent” manoeuvre, designed to circumvent the standard requirement to sign an exit slip for the use of operational equipment — equipment that was available in abundance within the Directorate’s own stores and vehicle compound. The clear intention was to leave no trail that might attract the attention of the hierarchy. It was further noted that, in the same spirit of concealment, those responsible had made use of personal vehicles or vehicles hired from outside the service — a practice that is strictly prohibited and has no precedent in legitimate operations.
With regard to the personnel deployed for the operation, another witness stated plainly that the selection process had been carried out in disregard of the Director General’s directives and the established customs of the DGRE. In particular, the standard requirement for a mixed team drawn from the army, police, and gendarmerie was ignored, as was the customary requirement for an officer to lead the team in the field. The same witness noted that one individual involved had been seconded to another region and was in Yaoundé solely for selection to a training programme — his use in this operation was neither necessary nor authorised by the Director General. The GTI, moreover, had a sufficient reserve of deployable agents at the time. This detail lends further weight to the argument that those responsible were deliberately assembling a team outside the knowledge of the service’s hierarchy.
In light of the foregoing, and as the full truth draws ever closer to the surface — a process to which Mr Léopold Maxime Eko Eko continues to contribute faithfully at every hearing — his legal team wish to draw public attention, both nationally and internationally, to the increasing use of delaying tactics designed to slow proceedings, to the smear campaign being waged through paid media, and above all to the pressure and threats being directed at counsel, family members, and those believed to be close to Mr Léopold Maxime Eko Eko.
Remaining steadfast in his confidence in the justice of his country, Mr Léopold Maxime Eko Eko reaffirms that no manoeuvre, however calculated, will weaken his determination to play his full part in bringing the truth to light.
On behalf of Mr Léopold Maxime Eko Eko — his legal counsel.
