South West Administrative Court Delivers Its First Justice

 By Roland Mbonteh

The President of the South West Administrative Court with lieu in Buea has passed the first-ever ruling of the court, two months after the structure was set up in the region.

Justice Ngu Ngwa Augustine ruled over the law suit that pitted Betanga Bernard and Prince Ndoki Mukete, both Chairman and Vice Chairman of South West Farmers' Cooperative Union, SOWEFCU, versus the South West Regional Delegate of Agriculture and Rural Development. The bone of contention was a petition for stay of execution filed by counsels for applicants on June 14, 2013.

According to the ruling, the court halts the reorganization of SOWEFCU and reinstates the deposed executive elected in 2011. Delivering the ruling in chambers, the President ordered that the execution of the Regional Order no. 164/AS/2013/RDARD/SW of May 2013 in so far as it concerns the South West Farmers' Co-operative Union, is stayed until the substantive suit initiated by the petition for reconsideration dated 7 June, 2013, is determined.

The Court also orders that the administrative status quo ante to the disputed extra-ordinary general meeting of SOWEFCU Ltd of the 11 of January 2013 shall be maintained till the determination by the substantive suit. The order, according to the pronouncement of the President, shall lapse upon the inability to file the substantive suit in court within sixty days from the rejection of the petition for reconsideration.

Justice Ngu Ngwa Augustine used the opportunity to appeal to the public that the Administrative Court is fully operational with its doors flanked open for all litigations that fall within its competence. It should be noted that the administrative court sanctions administrative offences, disputes on regional, council and other elections, disputes on landed property, disputes on public contract and concessions, amongst others.