75th Birth Day

Ben Muna

Ben Muna fetes 50 years of legal practice
By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde
Born in a country where the life expectancy is 49 years, Barrister Bernard Acho Muna had every reason to celebrate his 75th Birth Day.
    The legal icon and politician was honoured with a sumptuous Birth Day party organized for him jointly by his present and former trainees, at the Bastos residence of his junior brother-Barrister Akere Muna, on Tuesday 25th May 2015.
    The party brought together Ministers, General Managers, CEOs, foreign diplomats, batonniers, lawyers, journalists all of whom responded positively to the invitation for them to join Ni Ben in the fun of celebrating his 75th birthday and  also his 50th anniversary of active legal practice.

    The very informal ceremony at the gardens of Akere’s beautiful but modest Villa, was rendered even more light-hearted by the soft music that emanated from the life band that animated the event.
    As the guests sipped from their glasses and munched the tasty barbecue that was in ready supply, they also listened keenly to the short speeches from some selected personalities. Others followed the events from the giant screen that was placed at a strategic corner of the Akere Villa.
    Barrister Akere Muna, the host, described his big brother and mentor Ni Ben as a multi-dimensional persona.     Retracing Ni Ben’s long road to becoming a lawyer, Barrister Akere recalled how Ben Muna worked first as reporter for BBC, then as protocol officer in President Ahidjo’s cabinet. Ni Ben would later join the magistracy and worked as state council at the NW Attorney-General’s Chambers and later as President of the Bamenda court of 1st instance, from where he resigned to create his private law firm-the famous Muna Chambers in Yaounde.
    Akere thanked Ni Ben for inspiring him to become a lawyer and for monitoring him to become the reputable and respected lawyer that he is today.
    For his part, the current Bar Council President, Gnie Kamga hailed Batonnier Ben Muna for his exemplary and very successful practice at the Bar. He promised to organize a colloquiem for lawyers, on the theme: “Ethics and Deontology of Legal Practice” in honour of Ben Muna and his contribution to the growth of the Cameroon Bar Association..Batonnier Kamga also promised to revive the Central African Lawyers Union that was created by Ben Muna when he served as Bartonnier (1988-1994).
    Reacting to Akere and Kamga, Ni Ben Muna thanked them for the kind words. He remarked rather sincerely that he was not a very brilliant lawyer; but he succeeded because he believed in what he was doing. Ni Ben advised young lawyers to be honest, hardworking and steadfast. He thanked his over 40 former trainees for honouring him with the Birth Day and 50th anni. feast.   
    Some of the former trainees include names like Hon. Mbah Ndam, Diana Acha Marfaw and Charles Nguini.