Shanda Tonme: Warns of Cameroon Judicial Misconduct, Exposes Magistrate Abuse

• Shanda Tonme, President of COMICODI and MPDR, has strongly criticized judicial misconduct and corruption in Cameroon, citing a pervasive fear of the justice system.
• He detailed a case where a senior magistrate in the Ministry of Justice allegedly protected an insolvent tenant owing millions in rent, ultimately 'killing' the landlord's case.
• Tonme asserts that thousands of similar cases exist, impacting vulnerable groups like widows, orphans, and diaspora members.
• He dismisses common explanations like the non-holding of the Superior Council of Magistracy, arguing the core issue is a lack of ethics and professional conscience among some magistrates.
• Procedural irregularities, including infinite postponements, midnight deliberations, and alleged occult influences to block institutional meetings, are cited as common tactics.

He argues that the fundamental problem lies in a profound lack of ethics and professional conscience within parts of the judiciary.

Shanda Tonme, who serves as both the President of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and Discrimination (COMICODI) and the President of the Popular Movement for Dialogue and Reconciliation (MPDR), has issued a stark warning regarding the state of Cameroon's justice system. He criticizes what he terms "judicial libertinism" and "procedural wandering," asserting that these issues contribute to a pervasive sense of fear among citizens and have fundamentally altered the spirit and purpose of the law. Tonme's remarks highlight a growing distrust in the judiciary, with many citizens losing faith in its ability to deliver justice or uphold the rule of law.

Tonme points to a specific instance of alleged Cameroon judicial misconduct involving a high-ranking magistrate. He recounted the case of a citizen who approached him after being victimized by an insolvent tenant. This tenant owed millions in unpaid rent, a situation that, under Cameroon's new penal procedure code, should lead to severe penalties for rent fraud. However, the case took a troubling turn when a senior magistrate, holding a strategic position within the Ministry of Justice, allegedly intervened to protect the delinquent tenant.

According to Tonme, the senior magistrate explicitly advised the tenant not to pay the outstanding rent. Despite being questioned by a "precious service of the SED" (likely referring to a security or investigative body) and resisting for ten days, the tenant was eventually presented to the public prosecutor, who then referred the case for judgment. At this critical juncture, the influential magistrate reportedly re-entered the fray, leveraging their position to effectively "kill the case," leaving the landlord in a state of incapacitation and despair. Tonme claims that such instances are not isolated, estimating that thousands of similar cases exist across the country.

Beyond this specific example, Tonme cites other vulnerable populations who have suffered due to judicial failings. He mentions the plight of Florence METIKAM, a widow in Bafoussam who reportedly lost everything and faced oppression. Additionally, orphans and members of the Cameroonian diaspora are frequently dispossessed of their assets, leading to a reluctance to invest or even return to the country. These widespread issues underscore a broader pattern of Cameroon judicial corruption and abuse of power by Cameroonian magistrates, eroding public confidence and hindering national development.

While some attribute these systemic problems to the argument regarding the non-holding of the Superior Council of Magistracy (Conseil supérieur de la magistrature Cameroun) or issues with biased recruitments at the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM), Shanda Tonme dismisses these as mere pretexts. He argues that the fundamental problem lies in a profound lack of ethics and professional conscience within parts of the judiciary. Tonme emphasizes that despite the prevalent issues, there are still honest and professional magistrates who uphold justice, citing the case of THE TRUE CHURCH OF GOD OF CAMEROON (VEDC) as evidence that integrity still exists within the system.

However, he contends that the arguments often put forward to explain judicial failings, such as the absence of the Superior Council of Magistracy, are disingenuous and mask deeper ethical deficiencies. For Tonme, focusing solely on institutional mechanisms without addressing the moral compass of individual magistrates misses the core of the problem. He suggests that a genuine commitment to ethical conduct and professional responsibility is paramount for restoring the credibility and effectiveness of the Cameroonian justice system.

Tonme details various procedural irregularities Cameroon justice faces, which he attributes to magistrates engaging in "judicial libertinism." These tactics include infinite postponements of cases, conducting deliberations at midnight when a feared party is absent or distracted, and rushing through judgments, sometimes taking advantage of the Keeper of the Seals' absence, particularly when their return was uncertain after a medical evacuation. Such practices contribute to the perception of a justice system manipulated for personal gain or influence.

Furthermore, Tonme alleges that occult influences, or "maraboutage," are employed to prevent the Superior Council of Magistracy from convening as long as the current Minister of State/Justice remains in their position. He also highlights internal issues within the judiciary, such as retired magistrates clinging to their posts like "unshakeable baobabs" and the frustrations of young, unintegrated magistrates who experience stagnation in their careers. These factors collectively contribute to a dysfunctional environment where justice is often delayed, denied, or perverted.

Source: Original reporting via Le Médiateur Universel