S.W. Attorney General Institutes Bi-monthly Regional Tour

By Sirri NTONIFOR TANGWE in Kumba
The Attorney General (Procureur Général) of the South-West Court of Appeal, Magistrate Emile Essombe, has undertaken a regional tour to brief magistrates of legal departments and judicial police officers and agents on the finer points of the Criminal Procedure Code, and to establish a common viewpoint on how to apply the criminal law.
    During a press conference, Magistrate Essombe explained that some practises being done are not in accordance with the law and therefore, the tour through the legal departments in Kumba, Limbe, Tiko, Muyuka, Mamfe, etc, should result in a better application of the law. He described the tour as an opportunity to review the way the law is applied, identify shortcomings, take corrective measures and harmonise the application of the law throughout the region.

In Kumba, he addressed his collaborators and auxiliaries at the High Court on July 24 on the theme, ‘The Institution of Criminal Proceedings.’ The South-West Attorney General observed that there have been variations in the manner of instituting and prosecuting criminal actions. He noted that these variations stemmed from the application of former procedures under the repealed Criminal Procedure Ordinance. Setting facts right, he instructed the legal minds that criminal proceedings can be initiated either by the Legal Department or by an alleged injured party with varying processes and exceptions.
    Expressing his satisfaction at the good turn-out during the meeting, Magistrate Essombe revealed that this coordination meeting was just a maiden edition, heralding future bi-monthly meetings which will each focus on a different theme.