CIVIL PROCEDURE IN COMMON LAW CAMEROON

Civil Procedure in Common Law Cameroon is the result of the effort to present in easily readable language the practice in this field of law in the Common Law courts in Cameroon.

For a country of bi-jural nature, knowledge of civil procedure intricacies becomes a balmy breeze and indication of all the good things the practice may offer as it addresses the roots of disputes and opens way to successful resolution. The book is divided into fourteen chapters and built to provide a comprehensive, current and authoritative regulation on civil litigation before Cameroon’s Common Law Courts. It delves into various important aspects of the subject matter, including the commencement of civil actions, both for ordinary and special proceedings; rules governing pleadings, court processes; evidence; and interlocutory applications. The other strength of the book lies in the fact that it equally addresses some harmonized practices and procedures applicable in both the Common Law and Civil Law courts in the country, including simplified recovery and enforcement procedures, labour actions, sequestration proceedings and administrative litigation.

The book aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex legal landscape governing civil and administrative proceedings, thereby enhancing professional development. Consequently, it is a useful guide and valuable resource to legal and judicial authorities, academics, students, and the community at large.

Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................................................................................................                vii

Foreword  .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................                 ix

Preface  .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................                 xi

table of contents ............................................................................................................................................................................................                 xiii

Table of Cases .................................................................................................................................................................................................. xxiii

Table of Statutes .........................................................................................................................................................................................   xxxix

Abbreviation .............................................................................................................................................................................................................                 xl

Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................................................              1

I. Definition of civil procedure .......................................................................................................................................................         1

II. Meaning of Interlocutory Application .........................................................................................................................        1

III. Sources of Civil Procedure .......................................................................................................................................................          3

Chapter One: COURTS WITH JURISDICTION ............................................................................................   6

I. The Supreme Court of Cameroon ...................................................................................................................................           10

II. The Court of Appeal .......................................................................................................................................................................              12

III. The High Court .................................................................................................................................................................................                18

IV. The Court of First Instance ..................................................................................................................................................           22

A. Composition of the Court of First Instance ............................................................................................        23

B. Jurisdiction of the Court of the Court of First Instance .............................................................   23

Chapter Two: PARTIES TO AN ACTION .................................................................................................................    25

I. Types of Parties ........................................................................................................................................................................................               26

A. Proper Parties .................................................................................................................................................................................               26

B. Desirable Parties .........................................................................................................................................................................               27

C. Nominal Parties ..........................................................................................................................................................................               28

D. Necessary Parties .......................................................................................................................................................................              28

II. Legal Capacity to Sue and be Sued ................................................................................................................................          29

III. Other categorise of persons who can sue and be sued  .......................................................................   30

A. Estate of a Decease ..................................................................................................................................................................             30

B. Statutory Bodies  .......................................................................................................................................................................                31

C. Registered Business Name ...........................................................................................................................................             32

D. The Government .....................................................................................................................................................................               33

E. Firm of Partners ...........................................................................................................................................................................              34

F. Infants and Persons of Unsound Mind (Lunatics) .............................................................................     35

Chapter Three: APLLICATIONS RELATING TO PARTIES TO AN ACTION..........       36

I. Representative Actions ...................................................................................................................................................................              36

II. Joinder of Parties  ..............................................................................................................................................................................                40

A. Non-Joinder of Parties .......................................................................................................................................................             40

B. Mis-Joinder of Parties .........................................................................................................................................................              43

C. Joint plaintiffs ..............................................................................................................................................................................                 44

D. Joint Defendants .....................................................................................................................................................................                44

III. Parties by Intervention ...............................................................................................................................................................             44

IV. Third Party Proceeding ..............................................................................................................................................................             46

V. Interpleader Proceedings ...........................................................................................................................................................             49

A. The stake holder’s interpleader .................................................................................................................................          49

B. The sheriffs’ Interpleader ..................................................................................................................................................           50

VI. Change of Party or substitution of another person for a deceased party to a suit ...........                51

VII. Locus Standi ........................................................................................................................................................................................                55

Chapter Four: COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION IN COURT ...................................................                 58

I. Thinks to be Taken into Consideration Before Commencing a Civil Action in Court ......                   58

A. Cause of Action ...........................................................................................................................................................................              58

B. Jurisdiction .......................................................................................................................................................................................                 59

i. Material Jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................................................               60

ii. Territorial Jurisdiction ..................................................................................................................................................             60

C. Condition Precedent ............................................................................................................................................................               61

D. Statute Bar ........................................................................................................................................................................................                 61

II. Forms of Commencement of Actions in the High Court .................................................................    62

A. The Writ of Summons ......................................................................................................................................................              62

B. Originating Summons ........................................................................................................................................................               63

C. Petition ..................................................................................................................................................................................................                  65

D. Originating Motion or Application .................................................................................................................            65

III. The Source and Rational for the Continues application of the Originating Summons Procedure in the High Courts in the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon ..........................................              65

IV. Effect of non-compliance with the provisions as to the modes of commencing action .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................                 68

V. Form of Commencement of Civil Actions in the Court of First Instance (Magistrate Court) ....................................................................................................................................................................................   72

Chapter Five. PLEADINGS ............................................................................................................................................................            74

I. Functions of pleadings ....................................................................................................................................................................              76

A. The main functions of pleadings ............................................................................................................................          76

B. Contents of Pleadings .........................................................................................................................................................              77

II. Application for Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim ..........................................................     79

A. Introducing Averments .....................................................................................................................................................             79

B. Body .........................................................................................................................................................................................................                   80

C. Prayer or Relief ............................................................................................................................................................................               80

III. Statement of Defence  ...............................................................................................................................................................              81

A. Admission  .......................................................................................................................................................................................                 81

B. Traverse or Denial .....................................................................................................................................................................             82

C. Confession and Avoidance  ..........................................................................................................................................            85

D. Objection on Point of Law ..........................................................................................................................................            85

i. Non-Fulfilment of Conditions Precedent .............................................................................................        88

ii. Want of Diligent Prosecution .............................................................................................................................           89

iii. No Reasonable Cause of Action or No Defence .......................................................................     90

iv. Abuse of Court Process .............................................................................................................................................           91

E. Set-off ......................................................................................................................................................................................................                 92

F. Counter claim .................................................................................................................................................................................                93

IV. Amendment of Pleading .........................................................................................................................................................              94

V. Application for Amendment .................................................................................................................................................            96

Chapter Six: COMMENCEMENT OF SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS ......................................                99

I. Probate and Administration of Estate .........................................................................................................................          99

A. Custody of Wills....................................................................................................................................................................                   101

B. Types of Grants of Authority to Administer the Estate of Deceased Persons ............               105

C. Commencing Probate Actions .............................................................................................................................               106

i. Commencement of Intestate Succession ............................................................................................           106

ii. Commencement of Testate Succession ................................................................................................          118

II. Commencement of Labour Actions .......................................................................................................................              121

A. Commencing individual labour disputes .................................................................................................            121

B. Collective Labour Disputes  ....................................................................................................................................               125

III. Actions Brought Under the Uniform Act on Simplified Recovery Procedures
and Measures of Enforcement of the OHADA Uniform Act ..........................................................      127

A. Recovery of debt or property ..................................................................................................................................             130

i. Recovery of monetary claims ............................................................................................................................              130

ii. Action to recover property ..................................................................................................................................              131

IV. Sequestration Proceedings  ................................................................................................................................................              137

A. Credit entry .................................................................................................................................................................................                    138

B. Debit entry ...................................................................................................................................................................................                    138

V. Preventive Settlement .................................................................................................................................................................                146

A. Applicability and Conditions .................................................................................................................................                147

B. Possible decisions of the court ................................................................................................................................            148

i. Untenable preventive settlement ...................................................................................................................             149

ii. Where action if founded ........................................................................................................................................               149

VI. MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS  ..............................................................................................................             150

I. The applicable laws in Matrimonial Proceedings ..............................................................................         151

A. The Matrimonial Causes Act 1973  .......................................................................................................             152

i. The Legality of Marriage ...............................................................................................................................               153

a. Capacity to Marry .........................................................................................................................................                  153

b. Formalities for statutory  .......................................................................................................................             154

ii. Void and Voidable Marriage ...................................................................................................................              154

a. Grounds upon which a marriage may be void. ...........................................................        155

b. Grounds upon which a marriage will be held to be voidable ....................   155

II. Bars to relief where the marriage is voidable. .......................................................................................        155

III. The Grounds for Divorce Under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 .................. 156

IV. Matrimonial reliefs  ........................................................................................................................................................                  157

A. Dissolution of the marriage ..............................................................................................................................              157

i. Verifying Affidavit as a document to accompany the petition ........................    158

ii. Attempt at reconciling the parties before the filing of a divorce proceeding ..........................................................................................................................................................................        161

B. Judicial Separation  .....................................................................................................................................................                 162

i. Effect of a Decree of Judicial Separation ...................................................................................         162

C. Restitution of Conjugal Rights  ................................................................................................................                163

D. Jactitation of Marriage ..........................................................................................................................................                 164

V. Answer to a petition for divorce ...........................................................................................................................           164

VI. Property Adjustment ....................................................................................................................................................                 165

VII. Undefended Matrimonial Causes ................................................................................................................             167

VIII. Procedure Under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 .......    167

IX. Judicial Separation under the 2020 Law ................................................................................................            169

VII. ADOPTION PROCEEDINGS .........................................................................................................................               169

Chapter Seven: ADMINISTRATIVE LITIGATION ..................................................................................    173

General Introduction ..........................................................................................................     173

I. The Structure of Administrative Justice ................................................................................................................             176

A. Definition of Administrative and Ultra Vires Acts  ......................................................................       178

B. Administrative acts and acts of government. ......................................................................................          179

i. Administrative Disputes ..........................................................................................................................................                179

II. Types of Administrative Cases .........................................................................................................................................             180

i. Action for Abuse of Power ...................................................................................................................................             180

a. Formal irregularities ..........................................................................................................................................                 181

b. Material irregularity ...........................................................................................................................................                 182

ii. Suit for Indemnity or Reparation ...............................................................................................................             183

III. Other litigations .............................................................................................................................................................................                  183

i. Litigations to appreciate the legality of an administrative act. ..................................      183

ii. Litigation to interpret an administrative act. ................................................................................           184

IV. The Commencement of an Administrative Action  ..........................................................................         184

i. Condition precedent for the filing or institution of administrative actions
 in court .............................................................................................................................................................................................                    184

a. Conditions relating to pre-litigation .............................................................................................              184

b. Conditions precedent to bring the action ...............................................................................          190

c. Conditions relating to time/Prescription  ...............................................................................          192

d. Uniformity of the complaint and the petition  ...............................................................          194

V. The Nature of Administrative Decisions in Relation to Special or Urgent Procedures. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................          196

A. Stay of Execution ...................................................................................................................................................................                197

B. Urgent Administrative Litigation ....................................................................................................................                199

VI. Filing of the Petition in Court ...................................................................................................................................                 204

i. Examination of the Petition ...............................................................................................................................               204

ii. Hearing  ..................................................................................................................................................................................   206

VII. Interlocutory proceedings  ..........................................................................................................................................                  208

i. Counterclaims  ...................................................................................................................................................................                   208

a. How to raise a counterclaim ..................................................................................................................               208

ii. Intervener Proceedings ...........................................................................................................................................                209

iii. Withdrawal of Action and Acquiescence .......................................................................................            210

a. Lapse of time of petition and revival ..............................................................................................          211

iv. Recusal of a judge ..........................................................................................................................................................                211

VIII. Power of the Court of Appeal in Administrative Matters.  ..................................................      212

IX. Appeals to the Administrative Bench of the Supreme Court  .......................................            214

A. Appeals against Urgent Administrative Orders ................................................................................         215

B. Appeal against Orders of Stay of Execution ........................................................................................          216

Chapter eight. SERVICE OF COURT PROCESSES ...............................................................................     217

I. Types of Service ....................................................................................................................................................................................                 219

A. Personal Service ......................................................................................................................................................................                 219

B. Substituted Service .............................................................................................................................................................                  219

i. Procedure to service by substitution  .......................................................................................................            221

ii. Irregular Service...............................................................................................................................................................                   222

Chapter Nine: JUDGMENT AND ITS EXECUTION .......................................................................    223

I. Characteristics of a valid judgment .............................................................................................................................              225

A. Delivered in writing and in public/open court .................................................................................         225

B. Proper Evaluation of evidence ...............................................................................................................................             226

C. Confinement of Judgment to issues Raised and Claims Sought ................................      227

D. A judgment shall bear the names of the judicial personnel who delivered the judgment ...............................................................................................................................................................................................       228

F. Delivery of Judgment within time .....................................................................................................................             229

II. Review and setting aside of Judgment ...................................................................................................................            229

i. Default judgment  ........................................................................................................................................................                    230

ii. Enforcement of judgment ..................................................................................................................................               233

III. Procedure for the execution/enforcement of foreign court decision and arbitration awards  ..................................................................................................................................................................................     236

A. Provisional Execution ......................................................................................................................................................                237

B. Stay of execution ....................................................................................................................................................................                  238

IV. Estopple Per Rem Judicatam ......................................................................................................................................                 238

A. Core elements of the principle of estoppel per rem judicatam .......................................    239

B. Classification of Estoppel  ...........................................................................................................................................              242

Chapter Ten : APPLICATION FOR AN INJUNCTION ORDER  .....................................                243

I. Factors to be Considered by the Courts for the Grant of Application for Interlocutory Injunction ......................................................................................................................................................           246

II. How the Court Determines Balance of Convenience in the Grant of an Application for Interlocutory Injunction  .....................................................................................................            247

III. Application for Discharge of Interim Injunction .......................................................................         248

Chapter eleven : THE USE OF AFFIDAVIT EVIDENCE ................................................................                   250

I. Affidavit in support of Motion  .............................................................................................................................              250

A. Defective affidavit ........................................................................................................................................................                257

B. Counter Affidavit ........................................................................................................................................................                   259

C. Further and Better Affidavit ............................................................................................................................              259

Chapter Twelve: GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF
INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATIONS ......................................................................................................................        261

I. Types of Interlocutory Applications and Contents of a Motion Paper ............................. 265

A. Types of Interlocutory Applications ...............................................................................................................           265

i. Motion Ex Parte ........................................................................................................................................................... 265

ii. Motion on Notice ........................................................................................................................................................                   267

B. Contents of a Motion Paper ...............................................................................................................................                   268

II. THE PRACTICE OF INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATIONS .....................................       268

A. Application for Consolidation of Actions ..............................................................................................           272

i. Consolidation of Suits (Sample Prayers) .............................................................................................            273

ii. Specimen Affidavit in Support of Motion ......................................................................................           273

B. Application for Leave to Appeal Against an Interlocutory Ruling .............................   274

i. Leave to Appeal Specimen Prayer ................................................................................................................            276

ii. Specimen Affidavit in Support of Motion .......................................................................................           276

C. Application for Stay of Execution .....................................................................................................................            277

i. Stay of Execution: Specimen Prayer ..........................................................................................................            281

ii. Specimen affidavit in support of motion ...........................................................................................           281

D. Arrest of Absconding Defendant ......................................................................................................................            282

i. Arrest of Absconding Defendant: Specimen Prayer ...............................................................       284

ii. Specimen affidavit in support of motion ...........................................................................................           285

E. Application for Extension of Time .................................................................................................................            286

F. Judgement in default of appearance and/or pleading .................................................................      290

G. Setting Aside Default Judgment ........................................................................................................................              291

H. Striking Out of Suit for Want Of Diligent Prosecution .......................................................        297

J. Relisting a Struck-Out Suit  ......................................................................................................................................                 298

Chapter Thirteen: APPEALS ....................................................................................................................................................              299

I. Nature of Appeal: One of Right or with Leave? .........................................................................................          299

A. Commencement of Appeal  .....................................................................................................................................              302

B. When and where to file grounds of appeal ...........................................................................................           305

II. Appeal Relating to Taxation of Counsel Fees and the Interpretation of
Section 24 of Law No. 90/059 of 19/12/90 ..........................................................................................................           308

III. Appeals in Labour Matters ...............................................................................................................................................               308

IV. Additional Grounds of Appeal and the place of filing  ....................................................................      310

V. The Attitude of the Appellate Courts Towards Findings of Facts by Trial Courts ..........                311

Chapter Fourteen: ACCESS TO CUSTOMARY JUSTICE IN THE
APPELLATE COURTS ...................................................................................................................................................................               312

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................   312

I. Overview of the Structure of the Court System in Cameroon  .................................................      314

A. Courts with Ordinary Jurisdiction ..................................................................................................................               315

i. Customary (and Alkali) Courts ......................................................................................................................               315

ii. Courts of First Instance ..........................................................................................................................................               316

iii. The High Court ...........................................................................................................................................................                    317

B. Courts with Special Jurisdiction .........................................................................................................................               318

i. The Court of Appeal .................................................................................................................................................                  318

ii. The Supreme Court ....................................................................................................................................................                 318

II. Defects in Processing Customary Appeals  ....................................................................................................           319

III. Justices Administering Customary Appeals .................................................................................................           320

A. Application of Technical Procedural Rules ...........................................................................................          321

B. Addressing the Defective Customary Appeal Process ...............................................................      322

i. Flexible Interpretation of Technical Procedural Rules .........................................................      323

ii. Strengthening the Capacity of Appellate Judges ......................................................................         326

Conclusion .......................................................................       328

APPENDICES .......................................................................         330

Appendix one (1)            

IN THE HIGH COURT OF FAKO DIVISION

MOTION EX- PARTE FOR LEAVE TO FILE A REPRESENTATIVE
ACTION .....................................................................................................................................................................................................     330

Appendix two (2)

JOINDER OF PARTY  ................................................................................................................................................................                  334

Appendix three (3)  

STRIKING OUT THE NAME OF A DEFENDANT FOR MISJOINDER ......    337

Appendix four (4)  

PARTY BY INTERVENTION ..........................................................................................................................................               340

Appendix five (5)  

LEAVE TO ISSUE THIRD PARTY NOTICE ......................................................................................               344

Appendix Six (6)  

CHANGE OF PARTIES ...........................................................................................................................................................                  347

Appendix Seven (7)  

SAMPLE OF CAVEAT ................................................................................................................................................................                 349

Appendix Eight (8)

SAMPLE WARNING TO CAVEATOR ...............................................................................................................             350

Appendix Nine (9)

SAMPLE OF APPEARANCE TO WARNING (AFFIDAVIT OF
INTEREST) ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 351

Appendix Ten (10)

APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF UNQUESTIONABLE DEBT ...........................................................................................................................................                352

Appendix Eleven (11)  

APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER FOR INJUNCTION TO PAY .................................     353

Appendix Twelve (12)  

REFUSAL ORDER OF INJUNCTION TO PAY ....................................................................................          355

Appendix Thirteen (13)

ORDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF UNQUESTIONABLE DEBT ...............................     356

Appendix Fourteen (14)  

CONCILIATION NOTICE ................................................................................................................................................                  357

Appendix Fifteen (15)

CONCILIATION REPORT .................................................................................................................................................                 358

Appendix Sixteen (16)  

PETITION FOR DIVORCE ..............................................................................................................................................                 359

Appendix Seventeen (17)

APPLICATION FOR NULLITY OF MARRIAGE ORDER ...................................................       362

Appendix Eighteen (18)

VERIFYING AFFIDAVIT .......................................................................................................................................................               364

Appendix Nineteen (19)  

APPLICATION FOR ADOPTION ............................................................................................................................              365

Appendix Twenty (20)  

Affidavit of consent and Irrevocable release for adoption .............................................................................................................................................................................................                369

Appendix Twenty- One (21)  

NOTICE OF APPEAL ..................................................................................................................................................................                  371

Appendix Twenty – Two (22)

NOTIFICATION OF DECLARATION OF APPEAL .....................................................................        372

Appendix Twenty- Three (23)  

REPORT ON DECLARATION OF APPEAL ............................................................................................           373

Appendix Twenty-Four (24)  

CERTIFICATE OF APPEAL ...............................................................................................................................................               374

Appendix Twenty-Five (25)

Notification of judgment/Ruling ......................................................................................              375

Appendix Twenty-Six (26)  

SAMPLE DRAFT OF WRIT OF SUMMONS .........................................................................................               376

Appendix-twenty-Seven (27)  

AMENDMENT OF STATEMENT OF CLAIM ...................................................................................              379

Appendix Twenty-Eight (28)  

SAMPLE APPLICATION FOR SUBSTITUTED SERVICE ...................................................        382

Appendix Twenty-Nine (29)

SAMPLE APPLICATION FOR AN INJUNCTION ORDER .............................................         385

SUPREME COURT CIVIL PROCEDURE RULES CAP 211 ...............................................             389