By Walter Wilson Nana
One of Cameroon’s luminaries in the justice system is no more. Justice Tiku Eyong Mbuagbaw died in his Upper Bunduma residence, Saturday, January 12 2013.
Since 1994, Justice Mbuagbaw has been enjoying his voluntary retirement from the public service.
Tiku Eyong Mbuagbaw was born November 12 1938 in Tali, Manyu Division, Southwest Region to Samuel Eyong Eta and Susan Ebika, all deceased.
Late Justice Tiku Eyong Mbuagbaw
He did his primary education at the Native Authority School in Tali, where he passed the First School Leaving Certificate, FSLC, in 1952. He proceeded to Saint Joseph College, Sasse, Buea for his secondary education from 1952 to 1957.
Upon graduation from Sasse College, he began working as Clerk in the Customs Department in the then Victoria, today Limbe and subsequently to Bamenda and Mamfe. While working as a Clerk, he read at home for his Advanced Level examination.
1963, he passed the Advanced Level examination and gained admission into the University of Yaoundé, where he read Law. In the course of his studies in the Department of Law, University of Yaoundé, Mbuagbaw and other English speaking students like Hon. Simon Achidi Achu and late Justice Deba were sent to Besançon, France to study the French language.
Done with the university, he moved on to the National School of Administration and Magistracy, ENAM, where he settled for Magistracy and in 1969, he graduated.
Working Life
The young Magistrate began his rich career in Limbe, moved to Kumbo, came to Bamenda, Buea and back to Bamenda, where he was appointed Vice President of the Court of Appeal and later redeployed to Buea in same capacity.
1986, he was given the responsibility of the Attorney General for the Northwest Region.
1989, he was President, Court of Appeal, Bamenda. He was transferred to Buea in same position.
1994, he was reassigned to the Ministry of Justice & Keeper of the Seals as Chargé d’Etude, an appointment, which he did not take up and subsequently went in for voluntary retirement.
1996, he was sworn into the Cameroonian Bar Association as a Lawyer.
Marital & Social Life
Justice Mbuagbaw married Caroline Ebot in 1971. They are blessed with seven children; two boys and five girls. He was a member of the Ndifaw family meeting in Buea.
His younger brother, Dr. Lawrence Tanyi Mbuagbaw of the Buea Regional Hospital vividly remembers the brother; “He never spoke very much, easy going and well informed.”
The deceased son, Eyong Eta said; “Daddy never got angry. He was soft spoken and nice.”
According to Dr. Mbuagbaw, a tentative funeral and burial programmes have been slated at the close of February 2013.
