University of Buea Law School to go operational soon-BAR President

These were only some of the major resolutions that emerged from the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association holding in Buea, SW region recently.

At least 1200 lawyers effectively took part in the deliberations, while about 400 others were represented by proxies.

The revelations were made by the President of the Bar Council, Senior Barrister Sama Francis Asanga sitting alongside the president of the General Assembly of the Bar, Senior Barrister Emmanuel Tang.

This was during the general Assembly of lawyers in Buea recently.

Convened in the wake of vigorous protests by Anglophone lawyers against what they considered as government’s attempted disregard for the bi-jural legal system of the country by intending to appoint notaries public in the NW and SW regions of the country.

The lawyers seized the opportunity of the Buea General Assembly to also table and deliberate other pertinent issues affecting the practice of the law profession in Cameroon and the general functioning of the Bar Association.

It was the first ever Bar General Assembly to hold in the south west region.

It afforded the men and women of law a conducive forum to discuss burning issues like Bar dues, continuous training and retraining for lawyers through refresher courses and seminars, relations between the Bar Association and the ministry of justice and more.

It was also occasion for the Battonier to present his general report on the state of the Bar Association, including an up-date on the financial situation of the club of learned men and women.

In his opening remarks at the conclave, the General Assembly president, Barrister Tang, hailed all the lawyers who were present at the Sumptuous Chariot Hotel in Buea and frowned at those who failed to honor the invitation.

He reminded them that it is against the ethics of the profession for lawyers to keep away from sessions of the General Assembly for any reasons whatsoever, be it elective or non elective General Assemblies, as it is during such sittings that the two major organs of the BAR (the General Assembly and Council) meet in plenary and table and deliberate salient issues affecting the lives of lawyers.

Senior Barrister Emmanuel Tang expressed dissatisfaction and bitterness at the fact that some lawyers manifest apathy and are less concerned about matters of general interest to their profession, while they only pursue their personal matters.

Maitre Tang exhorted all Cameroonian lawyers and NW and SW lawyers in particular to examine the issue of appointment of notaries in the Anglophone regions carefully and passionately.

On his part, the BAR Council President (Battonier) Barrister Sama Francis Asanga used the occasion to remind lawyers and the general public that the BAR is not only concerned with judicial matters but is also deeply concerned about the worrisome security situation prevailing in the country.

He assured of the resolute stance of the BAR behind all state institutions not only in law maintenance and the fight for the independence of the judiciary but also to ensure that all Cameroonians live freely and enjoy their constitutional and Human Rights.

The seven-point agenda of the conclave had the appointment of notaries in the NW and SW regions as the hottest issue to be discussed.

In the final resolutions that emerged from the meeting the lawyers took a unanimous stance against the appointment of notaries public in the two Anglophone regions.

The Bar President hailed the lawyers for this exemplary show of solidarity between francophone and Anglophone lawyers.

Battonier Sama described the problem with the appointment of notaries as a problem for the Bar Association as an institution, and not a problem for Anglophone lawyers alone.

As for the long awaited publication of the results of the BAR exams, Barrister Sama Francis declared that the results of the Bar part 11 examinations will be published in the days ahead, as soon as the minister of justice gives his nod.

He informed that the next set of advocates would be sworn in soon and in the south west region, in memory of the late barrister Bonu Innocent who died recently in Yaounde during the marking of the Bar exams.

It should be recalled that the last swearing-in was done in Garoua in memory of the Late Barrister Aboubakar who also died in the course of the BAR exams.

As for the law school project, Batonnier Sama explained that the project may observe some delay because of the passing away of late Barrister Bonu who was the representative of the Bar in the project committee.

He however assured that the project is still in the pipeline, with the minister of justice and the university of Buea having to see to it that the school is established in the nearest future.

The lawyers during the GA also acknowledged the wonderful and enormous contributions of the late Barrister Bonu Innocent to the image and success of the Bar.

They pledged to promote and protect the legacy of the departed legal luminary.

The minister of justice was represented at the meeting by the chief justice of the South West Appeals Court, Justice Lucy Asuagbor.

Also present at the GA was the GM of SONARA and other dignitaries of the SW region.