Editorial: Well done Bar Council

There is every reason to give the Bar Council, under the leadership of Barrister Sama Francis a pat on the back for successfully staging the Bar exams.

The result of the orals have been announced showing a total of over one thousand four hundred candidates going through this to be admitted into pupilage for two years after which, they might be permanently admitted into the Bar. It is a remarkable success story for the Bar Council.

We are aware of the struggle to achieve this and at best, it gives more credibility to the profession especially for a country that is looking forward to its advancement in a competitive global set up.

Many will however question the number of those yet to join the legal family, as it concerns the quality of those chosen, who the public expects will uphold the dignity of the profession. To a large extent, we may also share in this argument.

It is however important to mention that even among those already practicing, there are serious question marks that negate the purpose of the bigger family that will only find itself crippled by its own inability to maintain standards, or a college of respected people who have failed to look at society as a constituency they are bound to serve with devotion, pride and dignity.

This country has had legal minds such as Barrister Gorgi Dinka, who, in defending the Late Bishop Ndogmo, urged the Military Tribunal to invite President Ahidjo, whom he described as the principal witness, to appear in court to be questioned and cross examined.

There were others like Barrister Sendze, Justice Ndoping, and a good number of others who, in the early days of our unification intervened courageously on matters related to the welfare of both individuals and the state.

During the stalemates of the early nineties, there was a concerted action on the part of the Cameroon Bar Association in defence of Celestine Monga and the Late Puis Njawe, both of whom were facing trial on charges of having outraged the President of the Republic in an article on the Le Messager Newspaper in Douala.

More than fifty counsels offered to stand for the two accused. With such a formidable team, led by Barrister Ben Muna at the time the Batonnier, the trumped up charges suffered a set-back.

When those who argue therefore, that admitting a large number of people into the Bar only defeats the purpose of building a strong legal family that will take into consideration a wider society and its problems, rather than sound minds that see this profession simply as an opening in sustaining life.

There are certain government decisions which contradict the laws and sometimes bring untold hardship on the citizens. We believe the Bar Council has the legal means to intervene and show where things need to be righted and justified by a clear interpretation of the law.

With the coming of this new generation, the elder brothers must remember that they are grooming their successors for the day they shall no longer be there. That been said, we congratulate the present leadership for the success but one more battle remains to be fought, and that is, the need for a Law School for the University of Buea.

Barrister Sama, we say well done, but keep on pressing for more reforms. Our country needs to move forward.