The high-profile murder trial of Martinez Zogo, a Cameroonian radio host found dead in January 2023 following violent abduction, resumed on June 1, 2026, at the military court in Yaoundé. During the proceedings, a harrowing video was displayed—depicting the late host bloodied and begging for help. Investigators discovered the footage in the digital files of one of the accused.

On this pivotal day, the court heard testimony from Professor Georges Bell Bitjocka, a digital forensics expert who conducted a meticulous analysis of the suspects’ mobile devices.

Among the evidence presented was a chilling video documenting the final moments of Martinez Zogo. The footage shows the victim bound at the wrists, with blood streaming from an ear wound and his face grotesquely disfigured. Screenshots from his phone were also revealed, further underscoring the brutality of the crime.

A wave of shock swept through the courtroom. As the video played, several attendees were visibly overcome with emotion, some breaking down in tears. Ludovic Zabze, the attorney representing Amplitude FM—the radio station where Zogo worked—shared his visceral reaction: « When the video ended, I turned away. I looked directly at the accused, and even they appeared devastated. The emotional weight of what we witnessed was overwhelming. »

The incriminating video was recovered from the Google account of Godje Oumarou, one of the accused and a member of the suspected execution squad. Digital traces also linked the footage to a disturbing conversation that took place on the evening of January 17, 2023. In that exchange, Justin Danwe, a former operations director at Cameroon’s external intelligence agency (DGRE), instructed an accomplice to « capture images of the mouse »—a coded reference to Martinez Zogo.

Defense attorneys, however, pushed back against the prosecution’s digital evidence. Maître Séri Zokou, representing Maxime Eko Eko (former DGRE chief), dismissed any connection between his client and the crime: « Regarding the phone data, those materials were handed over to the joint investigative commission and later to the investigating judge. Our client’s name never surfaced in connection with this case. »

Professor Bitjocka confirmed that his investigation extended to the devices of other key figures in the trial, including Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga (media mogul), Bruno Bidjang, and Martin Savom (local mayor).

Calvin Job, the lawyer for Zogo’s family, expressed confidence in the forensic evidence: « If the court relies on this report, it will have already completed 98% of its work. »

the murder of martinez zogo: a timeline of events

On January 22, 2023, Cameroonians awoke to the grim news: the lifeless body of Martinez Zogo—whose full name was Arsène Salomon Mbani Zogo—had been discovered near Yaoundé. The 51-year-old host, known for his bold radio show « Traffic Jams, » was a fearless critic of societal ills and powerful figures in Cameroon, sparing only President Paul Biya from his sharp commentary.

He was abducted on the evening of January 17 from his home in the capital. His body was later found stripped of clothing, approximately 25 kilometers outside Yaoundé, bearing unmistakable signs of torture.

The investigation, led by Colonel Pierrot Narcisse Nzie, culminated in the indictment of 17 suspects, all currently in detention. The accused include:

• Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, former DGRE director;
• Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Danwe, ex-DGRE operations chief;
• Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, owner of the press group l’Anecdote;
• Stéphane Martin Savom, mayor and administrative official from the Central Region.

The trial, initially bogged down by procedural delays, commenced on March 25, 2024, at the military court in Yaoundé. Substantive hearings began on September 1, 2025, marking a critical step toward justice for one of Cameroon’s most notorious crimes.