Fako Lawyers Association divulge plans for Cmr bar council

The Fako Lawyers Association FAKLA on Friday November 21 revealed three candidates who will bid for the Cameroon Bar under the banner of FAKLA. This important event that took place at the 3813 Complex in Tiko assembled lawyers from the Tiko Municipality and beyond.

The three legal minds presented by the FAKLA President Barrister Ajong Stanislaus were Barrister Njualem Charles of the Human Rights Law Firm, Barrister Ebah Ntoko Justice of the Justice Law Firm and Barrister Enow Benjamin of the Liberty Law Firm.

Barrister Charles Njualem who is already at the Bar where he is Treasurer number two is a First Class notable in the traditional sense. He has already served two years in the Bar and presently acts as the representative of the Bar President for Fako, Ndian and Kupe Manenguba Divisions. As one of the Senior Advocates in Tiko Sub Division and Fako in general his largess and helping hand as he put it has reached out to many. “I have won the hearts of many and I think that’s why they want me back.”

Questioned on his vision he said “We are trying to have more independence from the administration. The Bar should not just be another funny structure. We should take positions on current issues. Lawyers are not just going to give in to what the administration prescribes. We have to challenge some of the government bills and what some of the ministers are doing. The problem is not just at the level of the Bar but the country as a whole.

The Bar simply has to be independent.” Due to the fact that he was already at the Bar holding important positions, it is therefore normal that there are certain unfinished jobs that he is looking forward to finishing.” It is not just me saying that I have to go back there, it is all of us. It is not a one man thing.”

Another candidate under the FAKLA banner gunning for the Bar is Barrister Ebah Ntoko Justice. This very unassuming personality was formerly the President of the Fako Lawyers Association in 2006. Married and father of four, the seasoned Barrister Heads the Justice Law Firm in Mutengene in the Tiko Municipality. In this encounter with the media he simply said ” what I expect from people is to look at the mission and the vision that we have.

Our vision is that of a strong Bar and if you believe in a strong Bar and the independence of the judiciary then vote for us. If you believe in the monopoly of the Bar and in the fight against the appointment of notaries then vote for us. That is the message we have for our colleagues here in Fako and those who have come all the way from Kumba, Bamenda, Douala and Yaounde.” This vision Barrister Ntoko Justice said, is what they plan to spread around the country.

“The independence of the Bar is like a hotspice to control the excesses and the checks and balances of Cameroon. We are not going to fight against them but to contribute to the Nation building.” Voted a pupil advocate in 1996, he became a full advocate in 1998. He eventually opened the Justice Law Firm in 1999 and since then nothing seems to been strong enough to stop him.

The third candidate under the FAKLA banner Barrister Enow Benjamin is an Advocate of the Cameroon Bar Association as well as an Advocate of the Nigerian Bar Association. He was called to the Bar in Nigeria in 1999 and in Cameroon in the year 2000.

He presently Heads the Liberty Law Firm, the biggest in the Region. He assumed the mantle of this Law Firm with the passing away of Barrister Bonu Innocent. He explained that as a lawyer for the past twenty years, he has had enough time to do a study of the system. ” I understand that the Bar can only be meaningful if it stands by the people.

We as such need a Bar that will defend the rule of Law, that is determined to make sure that colleagues practice according to the ethics of the profession. ” He proposes that it be recognised that Cameroon is Bi-Jural, Bi-Cultural meaning that the values of both regions must be considered at all times when decisions are taken.

“We must not allow people to become independent dictators without taking into consideration the concerns of the people. This will need us to react to situations as they occur.” All these challenges he said are resolvable and stated clearly that he has the wherewithal to live up to the task.

As the count down narrows, these three FAKLA candidates will be presenting their vision in the ten Regions that make up the National triangle called Cameroon. It is hoped within legal circles in the South west Region that FAKLA this time around will have the greatest numerical representation at the Bar in its history.