The doors of the Wouri Court of Appeal remain closed this Monday, November 30, 2020.
At Bonanjo, Bonaberi and Ndokotti courts of first instance , it’s a similar situation.
No lawyer is in court for any activity. They are respecting a five-day lawyers’ strike called by the Bar Association running from Monday, November 30 to Friday, December 4, 2020.
Just as in Douala, lawyers throughout the national territory are observing the strike.
Following a release signed by the interim Bar Council president, Barrister Claire Atangana Bikouna, they decry the non-respect of lawyers in Cameroon by the magistracy, military and the executive in Cameroon.
According to Barrister Amungwa Nicodemus, magistrates in Cameroon erroneously consider themselves superior to Lawyers.
“Given that they have the final decision in a court does not mean they should intimidate and abuse lawyers in the process of seeking justice. This has to stop for justice to be rendered to Cameroonians to improve the society,” he said.
“Magistrates, police and gendarmes in Cameroon have practically taken over the functions of lawyers. They call and intimidate clients and lawyers asking for money in exchange of justice. This is unacceptable,” Barrister Ebi Standley has stated.
The legal practitioner admits that in the course of the protest, lawyers can still receive clients in their various law firms. “…the release of the interim batonier is clear. Lawyers should not go to court. That notwithstanding, we can give legal advice to our clients, carry out legal investigation and other things out of the court.”
Lawyers in Cameroon say the protest, the second in 2020, will paralyse the Cameroon justice system and send a message to the executive, national and international community of the poor justice system where lawyers that are experts are abused.
As lawyers engage in the protest, some critics have attributed their move as a response to the demands of some opposition political parties that are strongly against the government.
Mbatho Ntan.
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