Barrister Bonu finally buried after 2-Day Judicial Honours

Barrister Innocent Bonu has been laid to rest in his native Bambui in the North West Region, after two days of Judicial Honours and four funeral masses said in his honour.

Barrister Bonu who was born on December 7, 1956, died on April 17. Hundreds of lawyers and members of the judiciary turned out to pay him Judicial Honours in two separate solemn ceremonies; at the Buea Court of Appeal, June 9 and at the Bamenda Court of Appeal, today, June 10.

The Minister of Justice was represented at the Buea Court of Appeal by Joseph Fonkwe Fongang, Procureur General of the South West Region. Fongang said people will never forget how Bonu made them feel, describing Bonu as a tenacious lawyer whose voice still echoes in the court rooms around the country.

Francis Sama Asanga, President of the Cameroon Bar Association described the late Bonu as a legal colossus who did so much for the growth of law practice in Cameroon and has trained so many lawyers.

“I swore that I will not publish the results of Bar Part One, unless Bonu is buried because he died working for the success of the bar exams.” Sama said. “In less than two years,” Sama continued, “Bonu is the 23rd advocate we are burying.”

Lucy Asuagbor, President of the South West Court of Appeal in an emotion packed eulogy said Bonu has gone through a trial that has defiled all the rules of procedure; one that gave no room for submissions. “Bonu’s only charge was that his time was up” and he was not given room to plead for time.

She said Bonu’s death offers an opportunity for members of the judicial family to plead for mercy. “Time has come for us to orientate the nature of our practice.”

Barrister Akere Muna said he was greatly grieved at the demise of Bonu, but prayed God to reserve a befitting place for him who died on his legal feet.

Bonu trained well over 29 advocates from his Liberty Law Firm before his demise. He was sworn into the Bar in 1989. He practised journalism before engaging fulltime into the legal profession. He was a legal adviser to the Catholic Diocese of Buea, among several other functions. Bonu leaves behind a wife and four children, three boys and a girl, to mourn him. Before his death, he was on assignment to Yaoundé to take part in the correction of the 2014 Bar Exam. He collapsed and went into a coma Thursday, April 10, as a result of a “massive stroke.”