Common Law Lawyers Challenge Constitutional Council Over Anglophone Crisis

Two renowned Common Law Lawyers seized the second day of post-electoral litigation hearings at the at Cameroon’s Constitutional Council (CC) to rejuvenate the deepening Anglophone Crisis.
Barrister Felix Nkongho Agbor Balla and Barrister Ikome Ngongi Mbella, both made strong cases about what is happening in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, during their interventions as defence lawyers for the post-electoral litigations petitioned by the presidential flagbearer of the Cameroon Renaissance Party (CRM), Prof Maurice Kamto.

According to Barrister Agbor Balla, the interest of the people of the NW and SW should be cherished above the interest of an individual as was the situation in the October 7 presidential polls in some regions.

“Representatives of the CRM were driven out of some polling station like in the Far North Region, NWR…because they felt the interest of a particular candidate must be protected not to the interest of the constitution, not to the interest of the electoral code, not to the interest of Cameroon…the interest of the country is higher than the interest of any individual,” Barrister Agbor Balla said.

He also pointed out the case of the Buea Town Old Council Polling Station in the SWR where the representative of the CMR was driven on basis that their names were not on ELECAM electoral register but, it was however discovered in the ELECAM bureau that the names were inscribed on their list at bout 3pm; a tactic used to gain time to permit fraud, he stated.

Barrister Agbor Balla further recounted his arrest alongside Dr. Fontem Neva and others as they tried to reshape the form of the state of Cameroon.
“…Prof Maurice Kamto defended us when our lives were at stake, when we were accused of trying to change the form of the state… I am here because Maurice Kamto incarnates the value of justice, peace and unity that Cameroonians need. The people voted and their results must their desires,” he added.

He urged the President of the CC, Clément Atangana, to use his force of experience in passing a fair judgement.
“If you love this country take a decision that posterity will judge you right…your probity…independence is at stake depending on the judgement you will take…take the decision which will not mar the unity of this country,” Barrister Agbor Balla posited.

In the same vein, Barrister Ikome Ngongi Mbella who spoke after Barrister Agbor Balla, revisited the history on how the present stalemate currently going on in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, reflect some of the bad policies put in place by the status quo.

He equally called on the Constitutional Council President, Clement Atangana to take advantage of the opportunity before him and save the country from further destruction which he would have himself to blame if history repeats itself.

“You have a wonderful and unique opportunity to save this country from an impending doom,” he said.

Meanwhile, one of the members of the defence bench for the CPDM party, Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, counteracted some of the claims put forward by the common law lawyers.

He indicated that the situation in the two English Speaking regions of Cameroon, is one of a few individuals having bad faith on the republican integrity of Cameroon.

Using the usual regime cliché to substantiate his claims, Prof Elvis Ngolle Ngolle rounded by saying that the Defence forces are making great strides in clamping down on those destabilising the Anglophone regions.