Court Rejects Amougou Belinga’s Appeal, Media Tycoon Remains in Prison Over Zogo Murder Case

Yaoundé, July 17, 2025 — In a dramatic turn of events this Wednesday, embattled media magnate and businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga suffered a major setback in his ongoing legal battle over the murder of journalist Martinez Zogo.

Amougou Belinga, one of the key suspects in the high-profile assassination, had placed his hopes on his longstanding ties with Justice Minister Laurent Esso to secure a favourable ruling from the Centre Region Court of Appeal. His legal team filed an appeal seeking to nullify the military tribunal proceedings against him, in the hope of regaining his freedom and putting an end to months of detention.

However, the judges of the Court of Appeal delivered a stinging rebuke. In a session that lasted barely an hour, the court flatly rejected all procedural objections raised by Amougou Belinga’s lawyers. The verdict means that he remains in detention at Yaoundé’s Kondengui maximum security prison and must continue to face trial at the military tribunal.

Eyewitnesses at the hearing described a visibly shaken Amougou Belinga, his eyes red and close to tears as the ruling was read out. Moments earlier, a convoy of luxury SUVs was seen waiting outside the courthouse, apparently for what his entourage had hoped would be a triumphant ride back to freedom. Instead, he was escorted quietly back to prison as the vehicles departed in silence.

Amougou Belinga, owner of Vision 4 Television and several other businesses, is accused of orchestrating the gruesome murder of journalist Martinez Zogo in January 2023 — a killing that shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation. Critics have long alleged that he has used his connections within Cameroon’s political elite, including senior figures such as Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze, to shield himself from justice and to enrich himself illicitly through public funds.

This latest setback calls into question his legal and political strategy, which insiders say included promises reportedly made by senior regime figures — including a pledge from Civil Cabinet Director Samuel Mvondo Ayolo — to secure his release in exchange for his support in President Paul Biya’s re-election campaign.

For now, the businessman remains behind bars, with the next hearing at the military tribunal set for Monday, July 21.

As the case drags on, one thing remains clear: the shadow of Martinez Zogo’s death continues to loom large over Cameroon’s corridors of power. The attempt to bury this case may yet bury some of those who sought to silence it.

Cameroon Concord Desk, Yaoundé