Child Abuse: Bursar Arrested for Child Torture

Police in Ndu, Donga Mantung Division are currently investigation into a child battering case that has left the population of the town and environs dumbfounded. According classified sources, a certain Ngassa Vera, Bursar in one of the secondary schools in Ndu was arrested and detained before being granted bail on alleged child abuse/labour charges.

The story goes that Nyapa Stephane Parfect (10) according to what we gathered was brought in from Bangante-West Region by the said teacher (Bursar) to stay with her. Instead of sending the child to school, the woman instead transformed him into a sales boy. She gave firm instructions to the boy that he should never come back home with leftover. Whenever he comes back home with left, he is beaten and denied food. Neigbours say very often the young man will cry throughout the night. In order not to be beaten, Stephane said he was forced to steal money and hide so that whenever there is leftover, he goes to the hideout and collect the money to complete his sales for the day.

Last week, the torture that the young boy had undergone exploded to the public eye when a passerby spotted a boy laying by the road side on the

ground begging for life. “He was not able to talk and was crying helplessly” Jiti George-Manager of Savannah Radio Ndu who was called to the scene told this reporter. George said he further took the child to Ndu District hospital where Dr. Ndifor gave him some first aid treatment before he was able to talk.

The Divisional Officer for Ndu and the Senior State Counsel for Donga Mantung Division were alerted sources say. When the child was brought infront of the D.O for Ndu, he discovered that he had old and fresh brushes all over the body. Sources linked to the DO’s office told us that he guardian was immediately summoned. To the greatest dismay of all, when the woman arrived, she refuted the fact that she has been beating the child. She even claimed that the child disappears and appears at home when he wants. Yet, neigbours debunked the claims. When the child bag was searched, his notes showed that the last time he was in school was as far back as February 27, 2015. The Divisional Officer for Ndu was very bitter due to the fact that not only was the boy undergoing serious beating, he was not also going to school. "You are a teacher and mother, so if you see that someone has abused your own child this way, what will you do" the DO asked Madame Vera. She was immediately taken to the police station for further investigations. It is alleged that she was granted bail last Friday May 15 and is expected to appear infront of the State Counsel with the parents of the said child. The young boy we gathered was later taken to hospital and placed under the care of the mayor of Ndu.

It should be recalled that HOFNA Cameroon in collaboration with the US Embassy and the Mandela Washington Fellow early this year embarked on a wide sensitization campaign in Donga Mantung Division to reduce the phenomenon of child labour, abuse and trafficking. For years credible reports of human rights abuses against children living under the care of guardians have emerged from the North West and West regions of Cameroon commonly considered as a hub by many. Tongues are still waging in Ndu as to why this Bursar of GHS Kakar was granted bail. Besides, it is alleged that another Bursar whose school i have just forgotten wanted to play the devil's advocate in favour of the accused woman. It is alleged that he was the one that tied Stephane with robes.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Burundi: President warns Protesters as Coup Attempt Flops

Bujumbura (Burundi) (AFP) - Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza thanked loyalist forces Friday for crushing a coup attempt and warned demonstrators to end their protests, linking them to the mutineers who launched the putsch.

After two days of heavy battles, the attempt by high-ranking security and defence figures to seize power ended in failure as its leaders admitted defeat and were arrested or forced to go on the run.

In an official speech released by his office, Nkurunziza thanked "from my heart" the security forces for the "efficiency and speed that they demonstrated to stop the disturbing plan" to overthrow him.

 But the United States warned Nkurunziza against his plans to run for a third term in office, saying it would "exacerbate" Burundi's instability.

The dramatic finale to the coup attempt ended 48 hours of uncertainty over who controlled the small, landlocked and impoverished nation, which has been gripped by a political crisis over Nkurunziza's controversial bid for a third consecutive term.

General Godefroid Niyombare, who launched the coup in the central African nation earlier in the week, told AFP by telephone that he wanted to give himself up, while other top generals were arrested.

 "We have decided to surrender," Niyombare said, admitting his coup attempt had come to an end. "I hope they won't kill us."

But tensions remain, with anti-Nkurunziza demonstrators returning to the streets on Friday and police firing shots to disperse them.

The president demanded an immediate end to the rallies, warning that they were "related" to those who took part in the coup. A senior police official said Niyombare was still on the run, but that three other pro-coup generals had been detained. The loyalist police official also insisted those in detention were still alive, and that the state intended to put them on trial.

The coup leaders' spokesman, Zenon Ndabaneze, was speaking to AFP confirming that the putschists had decided to surrender when loyalist troops arrested him, deputy coup leader Cyrille Ndayirukiye and another senior figure among the rebels. Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza (pictured) was in neighbouring Tanzania when the failed coup w …

"We decided to give ourselves up. We have laid down our arms. We have called the security ministry to tell them we no longer have any arms," Ndabaneze said, seconds before he was heard being arrested.

"There will be no foul play. We won't kill them, we want to keep them so they can be judged," the police official told AFP after the arrests. - Homecoming for the president -

Nkurunziza -- who was abroad when the coup was declared -- meanwhile returned on Friday to the capital Bujumbura.

State radio said his motorcade was cheered by large crowds as it headed for the capital. All independent Burundian broadcasters, however, are off the air.NWomen dance as people hold a portrait of the Burundian president as they celebrate his return after Nkurunziza was in neighbouring Tanzania for regional talks on Wednesday when the coup was launched, in a culmination of weeks of violent street protests over his bid to cling to power.

Opposition and rights groups insist that it is unconstitutional for Nkurunziza, who has been in office since 2005, to run for more than two terms. The president, however, argues his first term did not count as he was elected by parliament, not directly by the people.

Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader from the Hutu majority and a born-again Christian, believes he ascended to the presidency with divine backing.

More than 25 people have been killed and scores wounded since late April, when Burundi's ruling CNDD-FDD party -- which has been accused of intimidating the opposition and arming its own militia -- nominated Nkurunziza to stand for re-election in June 26 polls.

It remains unclear, however, how many have died since the launch of the coup, and unrest could continue -- with civil society activists calling for a resumption of demonstrations. A woman carries a bucket as people queue for  water at a petrol station in the Bwiza neighborhood, ne …

Washington said it was deeply concerned about reports of "retaliatory violence" after the coup attempt.

- International concern -

The coup attempt had raised fears of a return to widespread violence in the country, which is still recovering from a 13-year civil war that ended in 2006 and left hundreds of thousands dead.

On Thursday, loyalist troops fought off two major attacks by rival soldiers in an intense battle for control over the strategically important state broadcaster.

The coup announcement drew international criticism, with the United Nations Security Council, in emergency talks on the crisis, called for an end to the violence and "the holding of credible elections".

More than 100,000 Burundians have fled the violence to neighbouring nations, the United Nations said Friday.

In his message announcing the coup, Niyombare signalled he did not want to take power himself, vowing instead to work for "the resumption of the electoral process in a peaceful and fair environment".

Niyombare is a highly respected figure who was sacked from his intelligence post in February after he opposed Nkurunziza's attempt to prolong his 10-year rule.

Asked to decide on the issue of a third term, Burundi's constitutional court found in the president's favour, but not before one of the judges fled the country claiming its members were subject to death threats.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Shooting to Death of Traditional Ruler: SDO’s Decisions Spark Controversy

An atmosphere of cloudiness looms between two villages (Njap village in Nkambe Central Sub Division and Kamine village in Misaje Sub Division) of Donga Mantung Division after the shooting to death of Fai Ndingansi (quarter head of Njap village in Nkambe Central Sub Division) on March 31, 2015. Matters came to a head, last May 9, 2015 when the fon of Kamine (Misaje Sub Division) resurfaced at Ngong quarter where the mortal remains of the said traditional ruler was laid to rest to carry out rituals on his grave. Tension is reported to have reached crescendo when the fon of Kamine insisted that he was acting on the instruction (Prefctoral Order) issued by the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division, Ngone Ndodemesape Bernard. According to what we gathered, Fai Ndingansi’s family resisted on grounds that would be an abomination and in the depths of despair for an outsider to carry out rituals on the grave of their family head. Yet The Eye gathered that Donga Mantung SDO has issued a query to the Fon of Njap on grounds that he disrespected his Order.

This is so because on April 8, 2015, Donga Mantung SDO issued a Prefectoral Order to temporarily regulate the performance of traditional rites in the said disputed piece of land. Prefectoral Order N0 094/PO/E27/C.111 SASC 8 April 2015 stipulated that the Fon of Kamine had three days to carryout cleansing where Fai Ndingansi was shot to death. Yet the Fon of Kamine surfaced 28 days after the date line had long expired. Many have interpreted the move as lack of respect of the Prefectoral Order on the part of Kamine Fon given that Article 1 states that “the Fon of Kamine village has three days maximum, with effect from the date of notification of this Order to carryout cleansing rite in the area where Ndingansi was shot on March 31^st …..”

The most controversial part of the Prefectoral we gathered lies in the fact that SDO for Donga Mantung, Ngone Ndodemesape Bernard in Article Three states that “the Divisional Officer for Misaje and his security collaborators shall administer the quarter, in account of proximity during the period of suspension” yet Njap people say the decision is not justifiable at all. They have been heard arguing that lack of access road to Ngong should not serve as a bridge for the area to be handed to a different village under such a pretext. The same Prefectoral Order also suspended all traditional rites, customary funerals, crowning/enthronement of a new sub chief suspended till further notice. It is alleged that the area under dispute is said to be rich underneath.

A classified source hinted this reporter that Ngong has being a quarter of Njap and this could be justified given that during the 1961 Plebiscite, the people of Ngong voted at the Njap Palace and during all the elections they have been voted at a polling station located at Fiengong. More so, Fai Ndingansi I, who died in 1976 we gathered was crowned by the fon of Njap. He was buried in Ngong and all the funeral rites were performed by the people of Njap under the supervision of the then Fon of Njap. Apart from that, Ngong has been paying all taxes (Jangali, Poll taxes) in Njap since 1964. The map of Njap also indicates Ngong as a quarter. These and many other evidences abound that someone is using land dispute as a camouflage to put out of sight those who masterminded the shooting to death of Fai Ndingansi III.   

In rejecting the rituals being carried out on the grave of their subject, the people of Njap we learnt have urged that the Administration, Fon of Njap and Fon of Kamine should move to the area, Ngong and pour libation to see who owns the place. A school of thought holds that the truth could only be established through the pouring of libation given that rituals are obnoxious acts that could hold the spirit of the assassinated sub chief to go after those who ganged up to kill him. The fear, we gathered steams from the fact that even the assassin spent days wandering in Ngong until he was napped. This we gathered it was due to the fact that on the night of March 31, 2015 when the sub chief was shot, a libation was pour calling on the gods not to allow the perpetrators quit their land.

The Fon of Njap is alleged to have decried that it is not because of inaccessibility or motorable road through Njap village that the fon of Kamine will take advantage to occupy part of his village. He discarded the proximity claims, adding that if such were tenable, Furu-Awa and Akwaya would have been administered from Nigeria for proximity reasons. It should be noted that Ngong has had a history of hostility. It said that at one moment someone was found death in the house under strange circumstances. In another instance, another person was shot to death, his wife beaten to death and the perpetrator was only slammed a three years jail term. The latest being the shooting to death of Fai Ndingansi.  All the victims have been from Njap village.

The most disheartening is that three of the four suspected murders of Fai Ndingansi were granted bail while the key suspect, a certain Nigerian national Shagari (who shot the said traditional ruler to death is currently in detention in Bamenda).  It should be recalled that Shagari was caught by the population of Njap the following morning in possession of the gun he used to kill the sub chief. His arrest also led to the arrest of three other suspects. Shagari according classified sources is Mbororo man from Nigeria and is said to be a renowned cow thief in Misaje; purportedly ringleader of a gang that has been terrorizing cattle traders between Bum Sub Division and Misaje Sub Division.

Land Dispute Key Suspect

The unfortunate incident is said to be linked to land dispute between Njap village in Nkambe Central and Kamine village in Misaje. The story goes that on March 31, 2015, the said quarter head while asleep late into the night got an uneasy barking from his dogs. As any normal thinking human being will react when strange things do happen, he got up from bed, opened the door to find out what must have provoked his dogs. That was when he was shot. The misguided individuals, as he (the quarter head recounted before giving off the ghost disappeared) leaving him on the floor. News circulated through numerous phone calls. Determined youths, men and women of Njap stormed the area. Allegations abound that some libations were also performed to block the assassin from leaving their land. While villagers launched a manhunt to get the killers, Fai Ndingansi was hurried to the Nkambe District Hospital on Achaba where he finally died. Before giving off the ghost, the said traditional ruler is said to have narrated what happened to the hearing of all. News of his death circulated like wildfire. Allegedly, the said traditional ruler had deposited two complaints against some individuals who have been threatening his life. The said individuals classified source say are under serious investigation. It is alleged that the anti-terrorism law looms large on suspected killers and accomplices. Last year, one traditional ruler was also killed by his brother over disputed palm bush in neigbouring quarter. While putting to rest the assassinated quarter head, the people of Njap performed a libation calling on the ancestors to take charge and their responsibility to make sure that anyone who participated in one way or the other in the killing (or got wing of the info that led to his death should be dealt with accordingly).


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Here are the Resolutions Sent to Gov't by Common Law Lawyers

RESOLUTIONS MADE AT THE INAUGURAL ALL CAMEROON COMMON LAW LAWYERS’ CONFERENCE HELD AT BAMENDA IN THE NORTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON 

We,Lawyers of the Cameroon Bar Association, of Common Law Extraction, which comprise the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon, 

·        Mindful of the Constitution of the Republic of Cameroon;

·        Mindful of the Charter of the United Nations;

·        Mindful of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights;

·        Mindful of the United Nations International Covenant on Social, Economicand Political Rights;

·        Mindful of the United Nations Convention on the Protection of Minorities;

·        Mindful of the United Nations Declaration against all forms of Discrimination;

·        Mindful of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights;

·        Mindful of the non-implementation of the United Nations General Assembly resolution 1608 (XV) of 21st April 1961 on the future of the trust territory of the Cameroons under the United Kingdom administration. 

·        Mindful of all human rights treaties duly ratified by Cameroon. 

·        Mindful of the United Nations Trusteeship Agreement on Trust Territories 

·        Considering the need for the proper Administration of Justice in Cameroon 

·        Considering the movement of judicial personnel in recent years without regard to the Bi-Jural and Dual Educational System of the Country. 

·        Meeting this ninth day of May, 2015 at Bamenda in the North West Regionof Cameroon, after carefully and assiduously deliberating on a wide range of issues affecting the nature and quality of the administration of justice andthe rule of law in Cameroon, especially as they negatively impact the minority English-speaking members of this Bi-Cultural, Bi-Jural, Bi-Lingual Nation, takethe following resolutions; 

1.      We strongly condemn and oppose the bias nature oflaw making in Cameroon and particularly condemn the past discriminatory amendments of the Constitution; we demand Government to immediately take measures to call for a constitutional conference or a referendum for the amendment of the constitution. 

2.      We note the deliberate and well planned program of whittling away and replacement of the Common Law-inspired rules of Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure, and of Evidence,  with  a system andculture of French-inspired or copied Civil Law and strongly and unequivocally reject this process and practice and demand the restoration of the referred Common Law-inspired Rules of practice and Procedure.   The spirit of interpretation of harmonized laws within the South West and North West Regions should be common law inspired; inparticular, the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), OHADA UNIFORM ACTS, Cima Code,etc 

3.      We oppose and reject the progressive replacement of Common law inspired rules and principles of substantive law in such areas ascontract, tort, land law, family law, etc. and call for their restoration within the Common Law jurisdiction in strict respect of the bi-jural nature ofour country and in keeping with the Country’s Constitution; 

4.      We strongly condemn the absence of independence ofthe Country’s Judiciary and the domination and control of the judiciary by theexecutive with the resulting loss of a truly transparent, credible and independent system of administration of justice and its attendant unpredictability and call for an immediate review of the justice sector of the country with a view to rendering it more Just, Functional, more credible, less corrupt, independent, dependable  and reliable in the service of justiceand a truly democratic society; 

5.      We deplore the lack of independence of the CameroonBar Association. 

PROPOSALSFOR A NEW DIRECTION IN THE JUSTICE SECTOR IN CAMEROON: 

1.      We demand an Independent Bar Association free ofany Government Supervision and Control. 

2.      We hereby propose a new direction for the future ofthe Justice Sector in Cameroon and recommend the creation, of a national, Independent Law Reform/Review Commission comprising principally, Practicing Lawyers, Jurists and Judges.

3.      We therefore recommend that:

  i.           The government should halt any project on the harmonization of laws until the national law commission is put into place and functional. 

  ii.           All Judicial Processes and proceedings in the Common Law Jurisdictions should be conducted in the English language - in criminal matters; this should be from interrogations through investigations to hearing and Judgment. 

  iii.           The Two Divisions of Common Law and Civil Law be clearly defined and operated side by side in ENAM and the quota of intake in both divisions known in advance. Only common law trained Magistrates to be posted in the South Westand North West Regions and Civil Law Trained Magistrates to the Civil Law Jurisdictions. 

  iv.           That the Educational System in the South west and North West Regions shouldnot be adulterated, English speaking citizens should have their studies in the English language from cradle to professional life. That all Public Examinationsbe organized in two Poles; English and French with none being translated fromthe other and the quota in both poles known in advance. 

4.    We demand the establishment of TWO chambers of the Supreme Court of Cameroon that represent the Common Law and Civil Law System,with Judges appointed to the Chambers from Common Law and Civil Law backgrounds to address legal issues from both legal cultures respectively.  In this regard, we propose the appointment of Judges from the Private Bar into theVarious Courts of Justice of the Common Law System. 

5.    We recommend the amendment of law no. 90/059 of19th December 1990 to organize practice at the bar and make provision for the creation of Law Schools.

6.    We propose the creation of a National Council of Legal Education to ensure the direction of legal education in the Common Lawand Civil Law jurisdictions, develop curricula for academic and professional
training of lawyers and to set up and supervise a system of continuing legal education for Lawyers, Prosecutors, Judges/Magistrates and other judicialactors. 

7.    We also reiterate our previous resolution unanimously endorsed at the Cameroon Bar Association’s General Assembly in Bueaon the 28th day of June 2014; that no Notaries be appointed in the North Westand South West Regions of Cameroon. 

8.    We have observed with utter dismay that there has been and continues to be a lack of protection with regard to the rights of the minority(Anglophone Cameroonians) as provided for in the constitution of this bi-jural, bilingual and bi-cultural nation. It is obvious that the rights of the Anglophones in Cameroon in the spheres of education, socio-cultural values,administrative set ups etc, are continuously and systematically being eroded with a view of imposing the socio-cultural and administrative views of the French and or Civil heritage of the majority Francophone Cameroon. 

9.    We demand that the State should exercise its Constitutional duty to protect the Anglophone minority and by so doing, protectour history, heritage, education and cultural values. Consequently for the better protection of the minority Anglophone Cameroonians and the Common Law heritage, we strongly demand a Federation. 

10.                    We hereby give Government a reasonable period from the date of deposit of these resolutions through the Bar Council to react positively to our demands, failing which this conference shall take the necessary disposition within the national legal frame work and if dissatisfied, seek further redress from international dispute resolution fora as shall be deemed appropriate. 

DONEAT BAMENDA THIS NINTH DAY OF MAY 2015.
SIGNEDAND ENDORSED BY ALL PARTICIPANTS PRESENT AT THE CONFERENCE. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

PCC Moderator, Synod Clerk Visit Donga Mantung Presbytery (PhotoNews)

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Donga Mantung: Visiting PCC Moderator Urges Christians to be Patriotic

Rev. Fonki

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, Rev. Fonki Samuel has called on PCC Christians of the Donga Mantung Presbytery to be patriotic in their way of life. In his sermon titled: Don’t Give up, PCC Moderator told the story of a poor woman who had no status before the law but resisted injustice. Injustice, corruption, embezzlement, capital flight have chopped the foundation of humanity giving room to egoistic systems of governance in Africa. Rev. Fonki Samuel also decried that the judiciary which is supposed to serve as the watchdog is unfortunately estranged in Africa by authoritative regimes. This egoistic system of governance, he lamented is partially or is responsible for the vice. While congratulating the 111 congregations that make up the Donga Mantung Presbytery and their partners in Germany for the numerous projects achieved, Rev. Fonki Samuel equally called on the Christians to use their products. He said PHS Nkambe should be the pride of Donga Mantung Division given that it also ensures the right moral upbringing of youths. On the Mbembe Project, he urged the Presbytery to reflect on how the project to could be transformed into generating income. He also used the opportunity to call on the Christians to pray for pastors’ inorder to encourage them to serve as good leaders in the various communities.

Rev. Titatang Kingsley on his part, presented a message from the friendly (church partner) in Germany. On the other hand, the mayor of Nkambe, Ngabir Paul Bantar told the Moderator that people the people Christians could elect him to pilot the affairs of the PCC, God had earlier elected him to the duty post. He said that even though the church as challenges, “the church is equally up to the task”. He concluded by calling on the PCC to maintain its frontline position as mainstream church.

Rev. Eyakwe Joseph Tata Nagunda, Donga Mantung Presbytery Secretary in a briefing with journalists said he was satisfied with the recommendations of the Moderator and the fact that PC Nkambe was sanctified as a worshipping house. Rev. Eyakwe also used the opportunity to express a message of thanks to their partner in Germany as well as called on the population to send their children to PHS Nkambe, which he said, is the citadel of standards. He also expressed gratitude to the Moderator for the scholarship program that he has offered to students and would be students of PHS Nkambe.

Hon. Awudu Mbaya

It should be recalled that a sum of FCFA 1,865,350 was raised to refurbish the Nkambe town Presbyterian Church. The fundraising which took place under the chairmen’s hip of the Mayor of Nkambe, Ngabir Paul Bantar, Hon. Awudu Mbaya, Questor at the National Assembly and SDO for Donga Mantung gave the church a new way. Talking to journalists at the end of the day, Hon. Awudu Mbaya said that considering the importance of the event, he had to travel from Yaounde to Nkambe to be part. According to Hon. Awudu, the Church has a duty to check societal excesses and the PCC has been doing it with a lot of dexterity. He described Rev. Fonki as a chosen God servant and messenger. Accordingly, Hon. Awudu said he appreciated the message of the Moderator given that the church (House of God) should not be a place of gossip, backbiting, slanders and all sort of obnoxious acts. Christians, he said should live in Love, peace and harmony.

It should be recalled that while in Donga Mantung Division, Rev. Fonki Samuel was crowned with the traditional title of Ta Nformi, while the Synod Clerk was also honoured with the Tamfu.

Profile of Moderator and Synod Clerk

Rev. Eyakwe Joseph Tata Nangunda

The Rev. Fonki was born on November 23, 1965 in his native village of Bombe in Akwaya, Manyu Division. His educational career started at St. Paul Primary School Bombe, culminating with a Masters Degree in Applied Theology at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. He has served the church in different capacities ranging from Parish Pastor to Presbytery Secretary in different presbyteries and also as Direct Partnership Secretary of the PCC.

He is married to Rev. Dr. Perpetua Fonki, a lecturer at the Cameroon Christian University – Kumba Campus and they are blessed with a son, Fonki Samuel Forba Junior.
Rev. Babila Fochang

Rev. Babila Fochang hails from Bali Nyonga. He has served the church in several capacities including as Parish Pastor, Chaplain, Presbytery Treasurer, Presbytery Secretary, and Lecturer at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary Kumba where he also served as Liberian, Director of Academic Affairs and Registrar.

He is married to Rebecca Kakubad. They are blessed with a son, Fambuh Emmanuel.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Anglophone Lawyers Tell Gov’t to Reinstate Federal System in Cameroon or else…..

Common Law Lawyers have issued a memo to government requesting that a federal system be reinstated in Cameroon whereby both the Common and Civil Law can function independently. The memo which has been described by impressionists as the beginning of the Anglophone revival in Cameroon so they say is creating panic in Yaounde.  To key speakers like Barrister Bobga , Barrister Eta  Bissong Jr and others, it is time for the cacophony to stop given that “with the Federal system, the two will function independently”. In a strongly worded memo, the lawyers gave government six months to look into their problems or else, they (the lawyers) will take drastic measures and or maybe behave the way Scottish lawyers did.  The measures we gathered include tabling the matters to the international courts and maybe be go to the street to express their anger. The lawyers also called on the powers that be, to respect the bicultural nature of Cameroon as well as interrupt all attempts to assimilate Anglophones of the former Southern Cameroon. The request giving government six months is the outcome of the ‘All Anglophone Lawyers’ conference’ that held at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Mankon, Bamenda on May 9, 2015.  The Bamenda conference also urged lawyers to enter into politics so as the effect the much needed change. “Lawyers should enter into politics to rule the country and not allowed to be ruled by illiterates and truck pushers”, they vomited. They also argued that if lawyers enter Parliament, they would be able to right many wrongs in the country. On his part Barrister Eta Bessong Jr called on all the Common Law lawyers to join their voices in order to tell the powers that be to stop the onslaught. The lawyers also decried the attempts to assimilate the Anglo Saxon sub section of educational adding that “it is time for records to be set straight for a peaceful coexistence of all Cameroonians.”

The lawyers also observed that it is a misfortune that the train of harmonization and the much talk about policy of Cameroon being a bilingual country has been null. According to Barrister Kemende Henry, North West Representative of the Cameroon Bar Association, recent happenings at the level of the North West Court of Appeal and the South West Court of Appeal jurisdictions and the convening of the Bamenda Conference are indicative. Accordingly, Barrister Kemende said that this state of nature has made the Cameroonians Common Law lawyer to be seen as defending what is unknown to them, and what no longer applies in England where it originated. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)