The Buea Court of First Instance was this Wednesday, July 6, 2022, jampacked with lawyers who besieged the premises in solidarity with one of theirs charged to court for issues linked to the land.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the Fako Lawyers’ Association (FAKLA), Barrister Nguve William, the massive presence of the lawyers was to emphasize the unity of the legal coups in the division.
“If as Lawyers we come out to defend citizens of the nation, we come out to defend cooperate bodies, then it beholds on us to come out en masse, to defend our colleague when he’s standing trial. We believe that our force is in our solidarity,” he said.
The trial session being heard for the first time, received preliminary objections on the constitution of the bench.
“As per the law, we expected a magistrate to sit at the bench in the court of the first instance or at most a collegiate bench of at most three magistrates, but we were surprised to see five presiding officers who came in to hear the matter,” Barrister Nguve added.
The matter was later adjourned to July 20 for the ruling.
At least, five lawyers are standing trial in Fako for different charges. The members of FAKLA blame the many trials on the lack of cooperation between their corps the legal department, and the bench.
“There should be a fraternal relationship between the bar, the legal department, and the bench because we all are here for the administration of justice. So, we should not be seen fighting among ourselves,” Barrister Nguve opined.
