Defense lawyers in the Martinez Zogo murder trial challenged the circumstances under which Lieutenant Colonel Dieudonné Bialo joined the joint police-gendarmerie commission tasked with investigating the journalist's killing. During a lengthy examination before the Yaoundé Military Tribunal on October 12, 2026, lawyers representing Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga and Bruno Bidjang pointed out that Bialo's name did not appear on the commission's original membership list.
Bialo, the prosecution's 35th witness, maintained that he had joined the commission as a replacement for Lieutenant Colonel Ayissi Nanga. Defense attorney Charles Tchoungang presented a list of the commission's members, drawn up in February 2023, which did not include Bialo. Asked to explain how he became involved, the officer said he had replaced Nanga, the former commander of the Mfoundi gendarmerie group, after Nanga was admitted to the War College in Yaoundé.
According to Bialo, the government prosecutor at the time had been informed of the substitution, and no additional administrative document was required. Defense lawyers questioned the basis on which the commission's membership had been changed. Another issue emerged during the examination. Despite his reported replacement, Nanga allegedly continued to participate in some interviews conducted by the commission between February 2 and 27, 2023. The defense asked why both officers had taken part in the investigation during that period.
Bialo maintained that he was a member of the commission but drew a distinction between that role and investigative work carried out by his own department. This distinction remains central to the dispute, with defense lawyers attempting to establish precisely what responsibilities he held and whether his participation followed the required procedures.
Questions About His Military Career
Before addressing Bialo's membership in the commission, defense attorney Élisabeth Essono questioned him about his military career. She asked him to identify the positions he had held since graduating from the Combined Services Military Academy (EMIA).
Bialo refused to provide an account of his career, even after the presiding judge told him he was free to answer the question. The officer maintained his refusal. Essono also asked whether he had served in the Presidential Guard or the Gendarmerie's Specialized Corps alongside Colonel Jean-Pierre Otoulou. Bialo acknowledged knowing Otoulou but declined to provide details of his previous assignments. His refusal prompted Essono to question his credibility. She pressed him to explain why he was unwilling to disclose certain details of his professional background while testifying in a criminal case.
Bialo rejected the defense's insinuations about his military past. However, his answers during the hearing did not provide a clear account of his career or previous postings.
Dispute Over His Role in the Investigation
Beyond Bialo's military assignments, the examination focused on the investigative work he had personally carried out in the Martinez Zogo case. Bialo explained that the Central Judicial Investigations Service (SCRJ), which he heads, had provided support to the gendarmerie's investigation. This assistance included the analysis of telephone data and other technical evidence collected after the journalist's abduction.
Defense lawyers attempted to distinguish work performed by the SCRJ from activities conducted under the authority of the joint investigative commission. They also questioned Bialo about his working relationship with Colonel Otoulou, who had led the initial investigation. On October 13, under questioning from lawyers representing Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, the former director general of the General Directorate for External Research (DGRE), Bialo clarified that he had assisted Otoulou but had not personally directed the investigation.
He explained that his assistance could include participation in investigative procedures. Nevertheless, defense lawyers continued to challenge the precise circumstances of his involvement in the commission. The dispute took another turn on the evening of October 13 when Ayissi Nanga, the officer Bialo said he had replaced, appeared before the tribunal.
Nanga told the court that he had received death threats since being called to testify and requested protection. In response, the presiding judge instructed the government prosecutor to take steps to ensure his safety. Nanga confirmed that he remained willing to testify but did not disclose what information he intended to present to the judges.
Ludovic Amara