Cameroon Bar Association has call on lawyers to remain calm and not to let themselves be overwhelmed especially at this time when they are paying tribute to deserved Batonnier TCHAKOUNTE PATIE Charles who contributed enormously through his sacrifice to give the Bar Association its nobility.
The interim President of the Bar Association, barrister Claire Atangana Bikouna made the call during a press briefing in Yaounde November 19, 2020.
Condemning the Douala Court of First Instance incident, Barrister Bikouna argued that a lawyer is not above the law and not even the police or magistrates.
The lawyer, the magistrate, the judicial police officer, according to her, all contribute to the administration of justice, that those who work to oppose them, should stop this dirty work which tarnishes the image of the justice system.
The President of the General Assembly, Barrister Evaristus Morfaw Nkafu reacting on the criticisms received after the bar association attended an event at the Supreme court said the supreme Court is an institution of the republic and not made up of only magistrates, so the bar when invited by the Supreme Court, has to respond. To him, that has got nothing to do with the position that the bar council has taken vis a vis the maltreatment meted on lawyers.
“The house went on fire when our colleagues were tear gazed, beaten in a court room despite the security and justice they gave, justice was mute. We take cognizance of the resolutions of the Bar council; they went in for moderation. Whether you like it or not the matter is pending before the court. The bar council and the bar association can’t transform themselves to a court”, he said.
“I pray we should be calm to bury the fallen hero in due form, we will have a joint meeting on the 1st of December and see where we can go from there”
He concluded by saying that institutions in place will do well to free their colleagues on bail because they have provided even more than what the law demands, and so their colleagues should be liberated.
The lawyers were tear gazed last November 10, 2020 as they were protesting for the release of their colleagues. The two lawyers based in Douala, Tamfu Richard and Armel Tchuemegne are said to have collected three million CFAF from a client who at the end of the day was slammed an 18-year jail term instead of 18 months.