Four New Lawyers Called To The Bar

By Ernest Sumelong

The Cameroon Bar Association swore in four new lawyers on Tuesday, January 16, at the Buea Court of Appeal.

Just called to the Bar:(L-R) Menge,Njang, kameni & Kumfa

John Sichui Kameni, Emmanuel Kumfa Wihnseiling, Julliette Mbarga Menge and Peter Njang Nsemanyu took the oath before Justices Anthony Nana, Irene Njoya and Albert Njie.

This followed a meeting of the Bar Council of the Cameroon Bar Association in April 2004 and January 2007 with decisions No. 153/17 of April 2004 and 018, 019 and 020 of January 13, 2007.

The new lawyers add up the number of legal practitioners in the country to 1500.
One of the presiding Justices, Njie, recalled to the new comers the qualities of a good lawyer, which include among other things; smart dressing, a good personality, moral rectitude, mastery of the law and the ability to argue out facts.

The newly sworn were also cautioned against carrying out any act of advocacy till they have met with conditions prescribed by the Bar Council.One of the new lawyers, Emmanuel Kumfa, 27, who went to a law school in Nigeria told The Post that it is quite costly for a foreign student to study law there.

"It is very expensive for Cameroonians who wish to go to a law school in Nigeria that is why many cannot afford to go. The school fee alone is about US $8.000, (circa FCFA 4 million) plus travel expenses and other logistics," Barrister Kumfa said.

Kumfa feels that staying in a group with other lawyers in a single chamber would make him even a better lawyer. He expressed the wish to stay with Juris Consul Law Firm, which comprises a battery of renowned lawyers in Buea.

John Kameni, on his part, said he is confident to make a good lawyer."There are many footballers in Cameroon but Eto'o is on top not because he is there for so long but because he is doing his job the way he is supposed to be doing it. By joining the Cameroon Bar Association today, I am prepared to do my job.

"I feel proud to be called to the Bar in my country and in court. I felt like the challenges of the society are being bestowed on lawyers," Kameni told The Post.According to Kameni, the Bar is an association of lawyers with certain duties which are unique worldwide; that is the duty to your clients, the duty to your colleagues, the duty to the corps and the duty to your society.

The last time the Bar Examinations were written in Cameroon was in 2001 while those who have been practising as pupil lawyers aspiring to become full lawyers in the country have been frustrated. Some, whose families can afford the cost, either go to law schools in Nigeria or Britain, for Anglophones, while others go to France or Canada, for the Francophones.

In the case of the new Bar members, three of them had to attend law schools in Nigeria and were admitted into the Nigerian Bar.Some legal practitioners The Post talked to contended that Government's reluctance to launch the Bar Exams is a deliberate fight against those who just jump into the profession and have soiled it.

Others, however, argue that the reasoning is a lame excuse that has continued to frustrate the hope of many aspiring lawyers.

Profiles

John Sichui Kameni, 38

confident and popular is a tough-talking lawyer. He will soon face the challenge of blending social popularity and making a name in the law profession. The Buea-bred lawyer attended St. Joseph's College, Sasse between 1980 and 1988 where he obtained both the Ordinary and Advanced Level certificates.

Afterwards, he obtained a Licence en Droits from the University of Yaounde I in 1992. His desire to chase money and influence led him into business from 1994 to 2000. He practised as a pupil lawyer at the Juris Consul Law Firm between 2000 and 2005.

After a long wait for the Bar Exams, he dashed to Nigeria where he obtained a Barrister at Law Certificate along with a Diploma in Negotiation and Mediation in Nigeria. The SOBAN, who is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, is single. He has a daughter though.

Julliette Mbarga Menge, 40

Is the lone woman among the newcomers and has a tough fight in an almost male-dominated profession. She comes from the Centre Province with and English academic background. She attended St. Paul's College, Bonjongo and obtained her Ordinary Level in 1987. she obtained a Diploma in Managerial Principles in 1988 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1992 from the Yaounde University.

Mbarga Menge comes to the Cameroonian Bar with a wealth of experience from Nigeria. She practised at Shinkafi, Kusamotu Law Firm, Unity House Marina in Lagos in 2002. She was a Research Officer at Ayorinde & Co., Adebayo Chambers, Lagos. She was equally a Research Officer at Tunji Abayoni & Co. Law Firm. Menge is both a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the African Women Lawyers Association of Nigeria. She is a spinster.

Peter Njang Nsemanyu, 53

Could conveniently be called a teacher and a lawyer but he would prefer to be called a lawyer. Njang obtained a Teacher's Grade II Certificate from RPC Mutengene in 1970 before obtaining the Ordinary and Advanced Level certificates from the Home Studies Rapid Results College, London between 1970 and 1973.

Njang moved to the Howard University, DC, USA where he earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in 1984. He got a Juris Doctor Degree from the American University, DC, USA in 1990. He sought and found a Masters in International Legal Studies a year later from the same institution.

The lawyer has had most of his experience teaching. He was the head teacher of Catholic School Ehom in Tombel from 1970 to 1972 and later taught at St. John's Catholic School Kumba from 1972- 1973.

He was also a tutor at Lycee de Dschang from 1975-76, College Daura, Kanu, Government Secondary School, Agidingbi both in Nigeria between from 1977 to 1983.
By virtue of his age, he set the matrimonial tone among the four of whom three remain singles. He is married and a father of five.

Emmanuel Kumfa Wihnseiling, 27

Bubbling with youthfulness and vitality will certainly be a great challenge to aging lawyers who may underestimate his legal know-how. Kumfa attended Sacred Heart College, Mankon, from 1992 to 1998 where he obtained both Ordinary and Advanced Levels.

He then proceeded to the University of Yaounde II in 1999 and earned a Licence en Droits in 2004. He practised as a pupil lawyer at the Juris Consul Law Firm, Buea from 2004-2005. He obtained a Barrister at Law Certificate from the Nigerian Law School in 2006. The SHESAN, who is also a bachelor, is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Comments

[Emah]

Not trying to rewrite the above article, I think the person in the picture in the far right doesn't fit accurately to the description given.

The post should cross check again the correct infomation and give Barrister Kumfa his right identity.

[Akoson]

As I write, there is great political unrest in Southern Cameroons territory.

Heavily armed Police and Gendarmes (a military unit) of La Republique du Cameroun raided a press conference hosted by the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) in Bamenda, Southern Cameroons today Saturday, Jan.20 2007. The over 300 civilians attending the press conference are currently undergoing flagrant abuse of their human rights by means of physical torture and psychological abuse. Many have been badly wounded. The venue of the press conference was ransacked by armed Gendarmes. After keeping the people at the premises for three hours, they were loaded into army trucks and taken away into detention. Among the over 300 people arrested at the press conference are:
SCNC National Chairman Chief Ayamba Ette Otun
SCNC National Vice Chairman Nfor Ngala Nfor
Other SCNC Executive Members
Journalists
Over 200 members of the general public
The people of Southern Cameroons call on you to use what ever means necessary to inform the international community of the barbarism of the Government of La Republique du Cameroun. Please intervene by mounting pressure on the Cameroun government to release these people. Their lives are in great danger!

In God's name we thank you,

Tonga Nfor
Southern Cameroonian.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[HANSON SONE]

JK as you rightly put it the race is not always on a 'first come first serve basis' but on how you overcome obtacles and distinguish youself under given circumtances. Congratulations boy.

Njoh Njoh Hanson
Osgoode Hall Law School
York University
Toronto - Canada.

[vally England]

I am very surprise that ''Kameni S. John,'' is a lawyer today.the boy though a SoBAN has some interesting story on his neck.
In 2006 a organised and swindled a German with 60.000 deusch marks,left the country with the cash.The poor German is still looking for this thief,today he is a lawyer.So what type of lawyer is he going to be?

The public should seriously watch this guy,there is still more to come from him.History always repeat itself,watch this space.
Vally England.

[Bimbia Boy]

Congratulations JK.You have set a pace for other young sobans and Buea youths. Keep up the spirit.
Cheers
Makaka
Rutgers Business School
New Jersey
USA