BY TAC
The date for the highly anticipated elective general assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association is now known.
The president of the general assembly of the Bar, Barrister Nkafu Evaristus Morfaw in a press release last week announced June 18, 2022 as the day about 3000 lawyers will converge at the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex to vote both the 15 members of the Bar Council, the president of the Bar, otherwise known as Batonnier and the President of the General Assembly.
As the day narrows down, Lawyers across the board have been criss-crossing the entire territory, canvassing for votes either through physical contacts or various social media platforms.
To avoid confusion and miss a golden opportunity to be amongst the 15 members of the Bar Council, members of the Meme Lawyers Association, MELA, have taken a firm commitment to make sure that their three candidates are voted.
The flag-bearers for Meme include, Barristers Nzoh Mbokeh Divine, Ekole Verine and Ayamba Joan.
Talking to the President of Meme Lawyer’s Association, Barrister Asu Alfred, he opined that Meme has always had just a single member at the Bar Council, Barrister Nzoh Mbokeh Divine. This time around the lobbying for their candidates to gain comfortable position at the Bar Council is high taking into consideration that the number of legal Practitioners has increased. MELA today counts around 200 lawyers on the Bar roll, and as a block the Yaoundé Elective conclave will enable MELA to throw their weight behind their candidates. MELA, he hinted has always remained the game changer in past Bar elections reason why come June 18, 2022, their candidates must sail through.
Corroborating the President, MELA’s scribe, Barrister Ebolloh, opined that Meme is ripe to have more than one member in the executive organ of the Bar. Their three candidates, he observed that this is their time and that any candidate eying the Bar Council out of Meme must lobby hard and make sure he/ she lobbies for MELA candidates to be voted in their respective jurisdictions. Barrister Ebolloh hinted and that Meme will celebrate the victory of their three candidates come June 18, 2022. Meme candidates have been endorsed by the close to 200 advocates with the about 70 senior advocates with 30 years standing to accompany them their campaigns all over the national territory and equally storm Yaounde to see their candidates mount the rostrum.
Who are the MELA candidates?
Barrister Nzoh Mbokeh Divine
According to Barrister Enombe Louis, MELA’s Organising Secretary, Nzoh Divine Mbokeh was called to the Bar in 1999 with professional residence in Kumba. He has 23 years post call. A fine gentleman and legal brain, he has been a council member since the August 2012. Steadfast and focused, he earned a travel ban together with the late Barrister Anthony Nong Zih as an upshot of the Anglophone crisis. He is a trainer and has trained so many young colleagues steering them to great professional practice. Barrister Nzoh Divine Mbokeh prior to becoming a council member has been special delegate of the Bar president during the mandate of the Batonnier emeritus Eta Besong Jr, Assistant secretary of the Bar under late Batonnier Sama Francis Asanga , Deputy Bar President representative for the South-West region under Batonnier Kamga Ngnie Jackson cumulatively with Bar spokesperson. He was later appointed Bar president representative for Meme and Manyu Division under the late Batonnier Charles Tchakoute Patie. His ascension to the national level was engineered by the fact that he served as vice and president of MELA respectively.
Barrister Ekole Verine
Barrister Verine Ekole has been practicing law since the 14th of February, 1996. He is the managing partner of the Law Offices of Ekole and Associates in Kumba. He also served as the Mayor of Mundemba, the Divisional headquarters of Ndian Division. He is bilingual, charismatic, loveable and humble. He is visionary and admired across the Cameroon Bar Association.
He is analumnus of the university of Yaoundé where he graduated in flying colours with an LLB in English Private Law and the Galilee Management Institute in Israel.Barrister Verine Ekole was the pioneer President of the United Cities and Councils of Cameroon for the South-West Region from 2002 to 2007.
Barrister Ayamba Joan Manyi
She is a Barrister and solicitor of Cameroon, member of the Cameroon and Nigerian Bar Association with eleven years post call.Principal partner, Queen Square Chambers Kumba, an alumnus from the prestigious girl’s school Queen of Rosary Secondary School Okoyong, Government High School GHS Mamfe, Yaoundé university 2 Soa, and Nigerian Law School Abuja Nigeria.
Legal aid officer Cameroon Association for the Protection and Education of Children, CAPEC in collaboration with the United Nations, Assistant coordinator of African Bar Association Meme, President Meme Female Lawyers Association, FEMELA, Human Rights advocates on Gender Based Violence and Frontline Green Lawyer. She is the former president of Okoyong Students Association,OPSA,
She was recently crowned as Ekadim/ Ma Eyangaro, ,the highest Manyu traditional title reserved for women of substance.
