Transfer of Magistrates:

Epuli Mathias is new President of Judicial Bench of Supreme Court

Chief Justice Epuli Mathias

Super-scale judge, Epuli Mathias Aloh, is the new president of the judicial bench of the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Epuli returns to the Supreme Court from the anti-corruption commission, CONAC, where he has been serving since 2011.

                The humble, effaced yet very jovial paramount ruler of the Baskossi people of Kupe-Muanuguba division of the SW region, returns to a house he masters only too well, haven served there before as head of the Criminal Bench and as Interim President of the Administrative Bench.

                A super-scale magistrate of the 1st category, chief justice Epuli joined the Supreme Court in 2000. He served in several capacities at the court until 2009 when CONAC solicited his experience to help the institution combat a festering and deep-rooted corruption that has been rocking the country.  But Epuli only joined CONAC in 2011. He has stayed there until his appointment Wednesday.

                He thus becomes the first Anglophone ever to occupy the exalted position of president of the judicial bench of the Supreme Court. The bench was created following the reorganization of the Supreme Court in 2006.

                Perhaps this was why chief Justice Epuli used the first opportunity granted him by the press to first thank God for keeping him alive and for making the appointment possible. He aslo thanked President Paul Biya for renewing his confidence in his “modest person”.

                Justice Epuli has also thanked his collaborators of CONAC, saying they gave him the opportunity to gain experience in a new domain. “A magistrate, wherever he finds himself, should always be ready to learn,” said Epuli, adding that his joy was all the more because he has now been called to serve at the highest rungs of the judiciary of his country.

                Born in 1952, chief justice Epuli is a graduate from ENAM (1977 batch) and holds a law degree from the University of Yaounde. He is married and a father of many children, two of whom are magistrates.

                Apart from Justice Epuli, other Anglophone Magistrates were also raised by Paul Biya. They include Justice Arrey Florence Rita, who becomes technical adviser the MINJUSTICE, Justice Nah SamaNyamndi, who goes to the Special Criminal Court as Vice President, Mrs Sarah LimungaItambiepseAmougouBelinga who becomes Advocate General of the Supreme Court and Justices BekongMbeAlemka and Abednego who move to the Supreme Court as advisers among others.

                Meanwhile Justice Ayah Paul and several others were retired.