2017 AFBA Conference Ends on a High Note

In a communique issued at the end of the conference, AFBA President, Hannibal Uwaifo, urged leaders of African countries to ensure that the fight against corruption and human rights violation was conducted within the ambit of the International Criminal law. AFBA which is the umbrella body of legal practitioners on the continent of Africa, decried what it termed over-zealousness by governments and security agencies who perpetrated abuses in the course of prosecuting cases against human rights activists, and others who expressed dissenting views or took dissenting positions.

The President of the association, Mr. Hannibal Uwaifo, who spoke at the end of the closing session of the AFBA Annual General Conference, bemoaned the fact that in recent times, the violation of the rights of human rights activists, among other stakeholders, has become the order of the day in many African countries. He called for responsible governance on the part of leaders on the continent, as a precondition for peace and inclusive development.

While we commend the ongoing effort of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to combat human Rights violation in many nations of Africa, what we are saying is that the fight must be continued and can be won under one umbrella. ‎”The AFBA does not condone rights violation, the fight can be conducted within the perimeter of the law and civility. “Certainly, the fight  can be won without breaching the principles of rule of law upon which the democracy of a civilised country is built”, the AFBA President added.

“A human rights crusader per excellence, Felix Agbor Nkongho a.k.a Balla is now a prisoner of conscience. Arrested without a warrant and detained since 17th of January, 2017 for standing up for the oppressed people of the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon; Arrested and detained for standing against the eradication of the Common Law and the Anglo-saxon system of education and cultural heritage in the Common Law Region of Cameroon; Arrested and detained for upholding the legal profession by being the watch dog of the society and the voiceof the voiceless; Charged with terrorism and other capital offences because of his political opinions; Facing the death penalty for standing up for justice and the respect of the Rule of Law in Cameroon.” #Free Felix Agbor Nkongho a.k.a Balla Now#  #Free Felix Agbor Nkongho

In a few weeks, the AFBA Executive Committee on Human Rights Violation will be at The Hague, Netherlands to sign an MOU agreement with the ICC. This collaboration would further strengthen the fight against human right violation in Africa.

“We (AFBA) have signed an MOU with the government of Burundi to establish a continuous Legal Education Studies, to upgrade the level of African lawyers”, an Exco member confirmed.

“With periodic training, the legal profession would be able to contribute its quota by working hard to change the mindset of African lawyers and their governments to reengineer their perceptions of the concept of corruption and rights violation.

African leaders must provide adequate machinery to strengthen the justice delivery system to ensure maximum result.

The immediate past President of Tanzania, Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete said that such a step would go a long way towards ensuring speedy trial of corrupt cases and squarely treat the cancer of corruption in the continent.

He said, “Africa is Rich in resources but very poor in its developments. It is disheartening to know that in a continent as wealthy as Africa 85% of the people are very very poor and living in abject poverty.

Describing corruption as endemic, the AFBA reiterated its commitment in joining the war against corruption, adding that pragmatic and decisive steps must be taken to curb it lest it killed the continent.

According to AFBA, corruption thrives because we do not recover proceeds of the crime of corruption from the guilty and convicted corrupt Presidents. “Our laws must be reviewed to include compulsory forfeiture of unlawful wealth of convicted corrupt Heads of States”.

It stated that AFBA would as a matter of urgency set up and strengthen its  mechanism to monitor and fight corruption and human rights violation in the International Court of Justice and the ICC.

The Governing Council of the African Bar Association (AFBA) has announced Kenya host for the 2018 edition of the association’s conference.

Kenya defeated Egypt and Burundi to win next years’ hosting right. Representatives of Egypt and Burundi promised to support the host for the benefit of the continent.