Ahead of January elections: Barrister Ewule declares for Bar General Assembly Vice President.

The Buea-based legal mind, who rose to prominence while standing as defence lawyer of the late TV pidgin broadcaster, Samuel Wazizi, declared his intention in a brief statement addressed to his colleagues. It was circulated on social media over the weekend.

Barrister Ewule’s outing comes few months to the Elective General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association. The elections will be held January 18, 2025, in Yaounde. 

Already, Barrister Ewule is being tipped favourite for the post of Vice President of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association.

In his statement released on his social media accounts, Barrister Lyonga Ewule expressed the conviction that the Cameroon Bar must live up to its potential in championing the rule of law, protecting civil liberties, and advancing the interests of its members. 

He emphasised that it is the fundamental purpose of Bar Associations. Barrister Ewule acknowledged that his decision to run for the Vice Presidency of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association was taken out of the desire to contribute his own quota to the growth of the legal profession in Cameroon.

The young, yet dynamic lawyer, who prides self of over ten years of experience of legal practice, emphasised that his determination is to work with fellow members to strengthen the association, uplift the entire legal profession, and contribute to the development of Cameroon.

He wrote: “My dear learned colleagues of the Cameroon Bar Association, I wish to declare my intention to run for the post of the Vice President of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association, in the upcoming Bar Elections, slated for January 2025”.

Barrister Ewule boasted that with over 10 years of experience as a practicing advocate in the Cameroon and Nigeria Bar Associations, “I think it is the right moment for me to serve the Cameroon Bar Association in the capacity of Vice President of the General Assembly”.

The native of Buea told his peers that: “I have served the Bar as Protocol Officer of two Bar presidents, the late Batonnier Tchakounte Charles and the present Batonnier, Mbah Eric Mbah”. 

Barrister Ewule said he is currently serving as member of the Human Rights Committee of the Cameroon Bar and President of the Sub Committee on Persons Living With Disabilities. 

“I am also serving as a liaison person between the Bar and the Military Court  in the South west Region, appointed to this big office in January 2023, by the present Bar President, Mbah Eric Mbah Esq,” he added.

To make a case for his ambitious bid, Barrister Ewule stated that: “I am confident that if voted as the Vice President of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar , I will collaborate with the President of the General Assembly, Batonnier and the entire Bar Council members to make a strong Cameroon Bar Association”.

“I think I have the leadership qualities to hold this office as I have done in the past.  I was the Senior Prefect of Bilingual Grammar School Molyko. I also held the position of the President of the Biggest Faculty in the University of Buea; Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, in 2010. I shall be counting on your votes, come January 18, 2025,” he concluded.

Rich, enviable professional background

Barrister Edward Lyonga Ewule, it should be said, is the Principal Partner of Legend Law Offices in Buea. He is also founder of Legend Human Rights Foundation.

The human rights lawyer is a member of the Cameroon and Nigerian Bars. He boasts of ten years of experience in strategic litigation, defending the oppressed and marginalised people in Cameroon. 

Barrister Edward is dedicated to upholding the rights of women and girls as a young man raised by a single mother, who was a great community mobiliser.

Edward’s dedication in highlighting issues of injustice has led him standing in as lawyer for Samuel Wazizi, a journalist who died while in custody.

He also defended Mrs Kongo Antoinette, a woman who was brutally assaulted and arrested for the crimes of her ex-lover, the late Amba ‘General’ No Pity.

Barrister Ewule’s dynamism and unwavering dedication to justice and the rule of law place him as one of the most influential human rights lawyers in Cameroon.

His works led to him to clinch the prestigious Canadian Award for Human Rights in 2023.

His other distinctions include the Life Achievement 2024 Rights Defender of the Year, the Presbyterian Church 2023 Lawyer of The Year, The Dreams Network 2022 Lawyer of the Year, and the PANNAFES 2022 Lawyer of The Year. 

Barrister Edward Lyonga is a graduate from the University of Buea. He is holder of an LL.M in Law. He is also holder of Masters in Law. He is currently a PhD fellow at the University of Buea, under the Department of Law and Political Sciences.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3274 of Tuesday October 29, 2024