By Noela EBOB BISONG
The first ever female lawyer to contest and to win the high office of Fako Lawyers Association FAKLA, is Barrister Nouvelliza Eta-Besong Njiminoh.
Described as focused, ethical, outspoken and seemingly fearless by some of her peers, Barr Nouvelliza Eta-Besong won the FAKLA presidency with 257 votes, against opponents Barr Martin Dikanjo Esingila (156) and Barr Quintus Tabot (68).
The election held for at least 15 hours on Saturday, November 23, at the premises of Limbe I Council, coordinated by Barr Moki Thomas as Chairman of the electoral commission, alongside other senior advocates.
First ever female FAKLA President
The election process which commenced after 1pm was fairly smooth except towards the close of polls, when some FAKLAns were declared not eligible to vote, apparently as a result of late regularisation. Hot arguments and debates took centre stage for about 15 minutes before the electoral commission ensured order. The election was done through a single ballot carrying 22 aspirants under various positions. Voting closed at about 7pm and counting commenced until about 2am Sunday morning, when the results were proclaimed. Some 481 FAKLAns cast their votes to decide the next executive for the next two years.
Barr Nouvelliza Eta-Besong heads a 14-man executive comprising Barr Melle Didier Melle (Vice President), Barr Ngosong Walter Bezankeng (Secretary General), Pupil Barr Mbua Peter Junior (Assistant SG), Barr Ndenecho Martha epse Gobina (Financial Secretary), Barr Myambi John Niba (Assistant Financial Secretary), Barr Nyingma Maurine Gumuh (Organising Secretary), Barr Nsoh Agbor (Treasurer), Barr Eyoh Njomo (Public Relations Officer), Barr Eben Smith Nkongho (Auditor) and four Advicers (Barr Arrey Ebot, Barr Wamucho Job, Barr Tanyi Gilbert and Barr Elvis Ashu).
Speaking at the close of the elections, Barr Moki Thomas, the electoral commission chair, in his appraisal said, “We thank God that we have successfully come to the end of the exercise. Of course, it was not perfect because the outgoing executive did not properly put everything in place but we have done the best that we could. We thank God that everything went successfully and we now have a new executive”.
In his reaction to the new FAKLA executive especially the head of the new team, former FAKLA president, Barr Nkongho Felix Agbor told the press that, “She is a candidate for change. She has a vision, she has a mission. She has been in FAKLA for a long time and we think that she can take the association to the next level because she has been very hard-working”.
Outgoing FAKLA president, Barr Asoh Ebi Epey said, “I can only wish that the next president be a better president than I was. The new FAKLA president should be the person who is ready, able and willing to defend the interest of lawyers, one who is able to hammer on the ethics of our profession especially at this point in time when we have over 200 advocates-in-training within Fako division. It should be about someone who will be a bridge between the older and younger generations of lawyers, one who can stand in front of any authority to speak the minds of lawyers and bring solutions to their issues, be able to sacrifice for the association and be clear with the association’s funds”, he detailed, confirming that Barr Eta-Besong embodies all such qualities and more.
Barr Nouvelliza Eta-Besong was sown-in as a full-fledged advocate in 2011 after practicing as a Pupil Lawyer in 2008. She is currently the Managing Partner of the Eta Besong Law Chambers in Buea, founded by her dad and mentor, Batonnier Eta Besong Jr. After 13 years in FAKLA, she has now created history by becoming the first female president of the association.
“I want to thank all my colleagues for trusting in me that I am able to man the association especially at this time. With their support, I know that we will be able to overcome and ever go further than the last executive went”, Barr Nouvelliza Eta-Besong reacted shortly after winning. She furthered that, “With the exco that has been voted in, we have all the available human resources in FAKLA, so we will make a good resource team that will serve FAKLAns as a priority”, she assured.
FAKLA is an association with over 600 members. The association started in 1996 under the name FAYJAS with pioneer president, Barr Ngu Gordon Mambo (1996-1997), followed by Barr Charlie Sone (1997-2000). In the year 2000 (in Mutengene at the residence of Barrister Diame Mbale, the association was changed from FAYJAS to FAKLA.) Late Barr Njualem Charles led FAKLA for two years (2000-2002), Late Barr Ambilichu Emmanuel (2002- 2004), Barr Ebah Ntoko Justice (2004-2006), Barr Bache Francis (2006-2009), Barr Ajong Stanilaus (2009-2015), Barr Nkongho Felix Agbor (2015- 2018), Barr Enow Benjamin Agbor (2018-2020), Barr Asoh Ebi Epey (2020-2024), and now Barr Nouvelliza Eta-Besong (2024*…)