Anglophone Crisis: Case against Church leaders discontinued.

By Bakah Derick

The Archbishop of Bamenda His Grace Fontem Essua, his Auxiliary Michael Bibi, the Bishop of Kumbo His Lordship George Nkuo, the Executive President of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Rev Dr Ncham Godwill and their respective churches have been in Court this Monday September 25, 2017 to answer to a law suit filed by a Consortium of Parents.

The presiding Judge Bikelle Theresia at the Court of First Instance in Bamenda made the long awaited announcement during the court session indicating that the Minister of Justice on behalf of the government had ordered that the Matter be discontinued.   

In her capacity as presiding judge she had to apply what is known in legal jargon as Nolle Prosequio as requested for by the State Prosecutor for the NW popularly called in French Procureur General. 

Before the Court could resume after close to two hour recess, the complainants had left the court premises following indications from their counsel that they were now free as only the judgment was being prepared. 

Justice Bikelle later emerged in her court room with the judgment bearing the discontinuance. 

Barrister Anthony Amazee who represented the Plaintiff being as counsel had no much comments than "as you heard the matter has been discontinued." 

Barrister Sendze Luck on his part after hesitating to make a statement regretted the fact that the Church authorities could be made to spend so much time and resources only for the matter to be discontinued with no adequate explanations insinuating that this could be a legal lacuna. 

Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Essua, Bishop Michael Bibi, Bishop George Nkuo, Rev Fr Kitang Michael, Rev Fr William Neba, Rev Sister Mary Nkendjie, The Roman Catholic Church, The Rt Rev Ncham Godwill Chiatoh and the Cameroon Baptist Convention were all dragged to court by Colonel Tamabang and Lt Colonel Terence Sama, Lt Loh Yai on behalf of a consortium of parents for  persistent neglect, Resistance, Refusal of tax, misappropriation, false pretense citing several provisions of the Penal Code including 151, 157 (1a), etc 

With the discontinuance, the Churches and the leaders can sue the plaintiffs for damages but the judge advised that this must be done following the right procedure. An observer reacting to this reporter indicating that "this matter just has to come to an end because there is no such thing like a consortium of parents." 

Though the hearing was not popular like the previous ones pulling thousands to the court, a few who showed up could be seen rejoicing. 

Quizzed on whether this discontinuance could have a calm-down effect on the Anglophone with the ongoing crisis, "I don't think so. This think has gone pass the level of the case against church leaders if not the population would have been here in their numbers. The time it could have an impact is long over." a lawyer who witnessed the session noted.