16/09/2021
WRITTEN SUBMISSION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CAMEROON BAR ON THE OCCASION OF THE SOLEMN OATH TAKING OF ADVOCATESINTRAINING DECLARED SUCCESSFUL DURING THE FINAL EXAMINATION OF END OF PUPILAGE OF FEBRUARY-MARCH,2018
HOLDEN AT BUEA, THIS 28TH DAY OF JUNE 2018.
MAY IT PLEASE,
YOUR LORDSHIP, CHIEF JUSTICE, THEPRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH WEST COURT OF APPEAL
The rare instances where I have had the opportunity to stand before this courtroom of the South West Court of Appeals have been on sad events, precisely during judicial honors to fallen Colleagues...
By the grace of God, I have overcome this ill luck.
Indeed today, I have the honor to address this same Honorable Court on the occasion of a happy event...
A happy event for these gentlemen who will be taking oath, the terms of which, I hope, they will remember all their lifetime,
A happy event for their families, who are witnessing decades of efforts being crowned with success,
A happy event for the sponsors or pupil masters and Trainers, whose support and dedication are rewarded,
A Happy event for the Cameroon Bar Association, delighted to welcome in its midst, new members who will continue its traditions and values.
YOUR LORDSHIP THE HONOURABLE PROCUREUR GENERAL OF THE SOUTH WEST COURT OF APPEAL
You have agreed to personally move the Court and make submissions during this swearing-in hearing.
Because I know you well, I know that I am not mistaken in saying that your presence in this courtroom is an expression of your esteem for our profession as Advocate.
The Cameroon Bar is sensitive to this testimony and highly appreciates it.
THE GOVERNOR OF THE SOUTH WEST REGION,
Despite your busy schedule, you have answered “present” to my invitation and that of the Procureur General of the SW Court of Appeal
The Solemnity of this Oath Taking Ceremony is enhanced by your presence, which presence honors not only the GREEN WIGS but all other learned colleagues.
It is my singular pleasure therefore to wish you a hearty welcome in this courthouse which remains the main work-place for advocates who as per the traditional expression, are referred to as NOBLE GENTLEMEN!
Let me seize this opportunity of your presence here, to congratulate ourselves on the good quality of relations between the top administration of the South West Region and the Cameroon Bar Association, and to express my fervent wish that this relationship encounter’s neither dark clouds nor turbulent weather.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES OF THE SOUTH WEST REGION AND FAKO DIVISION,
THE MAYOR OF BUEA MUNICIPALITY,
YOUR LORDSHIPS OF THE SOUTH WEST COURT OF APPEAL, HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THIS PANEL,
YOUR LORDSHIP THE PRESIDENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COURT OF THE SOUTH WEST REGION,
YOUR LORDSHIP THE PRESIDENT OF THE MILITARY TRIBUNAL OF BUEA
YOUR LORDSHIP THE STATE PROSECUTOR OF THE MILITARY TRIBUNAL OF BUEA
YOUR LORDSHIPS THE JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT OF FAKO
YOUR LORDSHIPS THE PRESIDENT OF THE TRIBUNAL OF FIRST INSTANCE OF BUEA
YOUR LORDSHIPS, HEADS OF JURISDICTIONS,JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES IN YOUR RESPECTIVE GRADES AND FUNCTIONS,
YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES, FONS AND CHIEFS
VERY SENIOR ADVOCATE, BARRISTER EKONTANG ELAD
THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE CAMEROON BAR ASSOCIATION, BATONNIER ETA BESONG Jr.
THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CAMEROON BAR, VERY SENIOR BARRISTER GILBERT ABUNAW
THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE BAR FOR THE SOUTH WEST, BARRISTER MBOKE DIVINE
THE DEPUTY TREASURER OF THE CAMEROON BAR, BARRISTER NTOCKO EBAH JUSTICE
MEMBERS OF THE BAR COUNCIL HERE PRESENT, ESPECIALLY BARRISTER TCHAKOUTE PATIE,
PAST MEMBERS OF THE BAR COUNCIL
VERY SENIOR AND SENIOR LEARNED COLLEAGUES, LEARNED COLLEAGUES,
INVITED GUESTS IN YOUR DIFFERENT CAPACITIES AND FUNCTIONS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I am very humbled and privileged to welcome you in this court hall on this solemn occasion of the oath taking of these would be Advocates as the law ordains.
My Lords, Learned Gentlemen,
Since our last formal encounter, a lot has happened to the judicial family especially the Bar.
Several colleagues have passed away.
This being a solemn ceremony, I cannot ask the Court to observe a minute of silence in their memory, but I pray that where ever they are, our thoughts are still with them and let them keep continuous watch over our Bar Association, and especially over you, my young learned colleagues who will take oath shortly.
My Lords, Learned Colleagues,
In the tradition of the Bar, oath taking ceremony offers its President the opportunity:
TO CONGRATULATE the new Lawyers ...
TO GIVE them some advices ...
TO ELUCIDATE on some cardinal principles of the profession in order to remind all Advocates, both seniors and juniors, about a few rules to which we are bound...
I do not intend to depart from this tradition.
I would like to begin this part of my statement by warmly congratulating these 99 Learned Colleagues who were declared successful at the 2018 session of their end-of-year training examination, published by Ministerial Order 020/DPJ/SG/MJ of 02 April 2018 signed by the Minister of State, Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, and the one other person who is entering the Cameroon Bar from another Bar.
Hard work, due diligence during their training is the raison d’être of this solemn ceremony.
I equally extend my gratitude to the Regional trainers and their pupil masters for the job well done.
Learned Colleagues,
During your training, you were drilled not only about practical issues of the law, but also and most importantly, the understanding of our organic laws.
I shall not be labor the point on our deontology, but for the purposes of emphasis, I shall seize this opportunity to remind ourselves, and especially those of you about to be sworn in, what the Bar is not:
Foremost, the Bar is not an Association of a disorganized group of people.
The Bar is not an affiliate of any local association of lawyers; rather these local associations are affiliates to the Cameroon Bar by dint of the fact that their respective members are bona fide members of the Bar. However, the issue of good standing is not meant for this occasion but as lawyers we do understand ourselves.
The Bar is not a political organization where its members can advocate political opinions. I must state here that, this notwithstanding, members are not precluded from being politically active or belonging to any legalized political party and run for office. It is common knowledge that, there are colleagues who are Senators, Parliamentarians, Mayors and militants of political parties. To all these elected colleagues I here and now repeat the congratulations of the Bar to them. Lawyers are and continue to be a veritable political force to reckon with the world over.
Now, let me remind ourselves again and you in particular who are about to be sworn-in by this Honorable court, what the Bar is:
• The Bar is an Association of Disciplined gentlemen,
• Members with probity, dignity and respect,
• It is an association – What am I saying – an Institution with members of high standing moral rectitude.
This is the kind of Bar of Past President, the venerated Very Senior Barrister LUKE SENDZE who doubles as the most senior member of the Cameroon BarRoll, Past President ETA BESSONG Jr., Past President of the General Assembly, Barrister ABUNAW Gilbert and very senior Advocates Barristers EKONTANG ELAD, Miriam WELEDJI, Chief Charles TAKU, Peter MONTHE TUMDE, James OBENENGU, Francis AZEH, Peter NKEA, HELEN EBAI...
I cannot call out all their names in this submissions and I hope they let go this omission.
These gentlemen have distinguished themselves with probity, dignity and very high moral standing to commend and emulate.
This is the Bar I know of and privileged to head.
My goal has been to add value to the Bar I took over, or at worse, to leave it the way I met it.
My Lords, Learned Colleagues,
Lawyers are the champions in advocating, upholding and the protection of civil liberties.
This is well articulated by the Bar via the commission of Human Rights.
This commission has been at work since its commissioning and its reports are in public view.
The latest report shall be published this July, 2018 and it shall be an interesting read.
The Bar like most institutions, is not void of lapses.
Some provisions of our organic laws have out lived their usefulness while others need to be modified.
Learned colleagues
Like most of you,
I am aware of these challenges and have addressed proposals to the competent authorities upon the recommendations of the Bar Council.
These changes cannot be done in dispersed voices. To have the loudest voice in the house of an issue of importance does not make you the smartest or most intelligent lawyer.
It only makes you loud and noisy. On the contrary, a well-articulated opinion following laid down rules, shall most often win the recognition and approval of most members.
An opinion that maybe good but not approved by our governing institution should make no one feel rejected, mean or foolish.
It should not cause any lawyer(s) to take the abysmal cliff of conducting himself in such a derogatory manner to infringe on the law organizing practice at the Bar as read with our internal rules.
There are three ways that a lawyer can exit from the Bar, namely:
1) VOLUNTARY EXIT
2) DISBARMENT
3) DEATH
It is true that as lawyers, we have the control and management of the first two options, while the 3rd is Divine.
If after your oath of office, you do not judge the Bar comfortable enough with your education and training, please I shall advice that you opt for option one above (Voluntary exit).
Should you decide to stay, which is my most fervent wish, I entreat you all to avoid at all situations not to be visited by option B (Disbarment).
It shall be laudable to exit the Bar as it is, than stay and attempt to destroy it in order to attain your personal goals.
NOT UNDER MY WATCH.
My Lords,
With these moral and professional advices to these my young colleagues,
I urge you to uphold my submissions and pray the Procurer General not to oppose same for the oath of office to be administered to these learned Gentlemen.
That would be my humble submission.
