The fate of the ten detained Ambazonian leaders popularly known as the NERA 10 will be known on 19 March 2026, after Cameroon’s Supreme Court on January 15, 2026, concluded hearings in their long-running appeal case and adjourned proceedings for the delivery of judgment.
The development follows a closely watched hearing at the Supreme Court in Yaoundé, where final submissions were made by both the defence and the prosecution, bringing to a close a critical phase of a legal battle that has spanned more than eight years.
According to a press statement issued shortly after the hearing by Dabney Yerima, Vice President of the self-declared Federal Republic of Ambazonia, the detainees arrived at the court premises at about 8:00 am, with their case eventually called at around 10:00 am.
“The session marked the hearing phase of their appeal, during which final submissions were made,” Yerima said, noting that the court proceedings represented a decisive moment for the group.
He disclosed that the Rapporteur’s report was read before the court and, in the view of the defence, was “clearly biased toward the rejection of their grounds for appeal”, a position which he said was fully adopted by the government bench.
Despite this, Yerima praised the conduct of the defence lawyers, stating that they “presented their final submissions firmly and professionally, addressing both the legal and factual issues before the Court.”
In a rare moment during the proceedings, each of the ten detainees was allowed to personally address the bench.
“Each of the ten NERA 10 was granted the opportunity to personally address the Court, and all spoke truthfully, courageously, and without fear,” Yerima said.
At the close of arguments, the presiding judge adjourned the matter to 19 March 2026, the date scheduled for the delivery of judgment, a decision that now places renewed national and international focus on the Supreme Court as the final arbiter in the case.
The NERA 10, including Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe, are leading figures in the Anglophone crisis. They were arrested in Abuja, Nigeria, in January 2018 and later extradited to Cameroon under controversial circumstances. In 2019, a military tribunal sentenced them to life imprisonment on charges including terrorism and secession, a ruling that has since been challenged by their legal team.
The latest court session follows an earlier adjournment on 18 December 2025, when the Supreme Court deferred the matter to January 2026, prolonging an already protracted judicial process. Defence lawyers at the time warned against excessive delays, stressing that “justice deferred must not become justice denied”.
“As we await the Court’s decision, we take this moment to express our deep gratitude to everyone who has continued to stand by us throughout these long and difficult years,” Yerima said. “Your prayers, moral support, solidarity, and unwavering commitment have given us strength and hope.”
He added that the detainees remain resolute despite the uncertainty ahead. “On their behalf, I thank you all for believing in justice, truth, and perseverance. They remain resolute and committed as they await judgment.”
