Cameroon Baptist Convention: Three Officials Given 6-Month Suspended Sentences

The Yaounde Court of First Instance, Centre Administratif on Thursday, December 11, 2025 gave its ruling in the matter brought against two former Cameroon Baptist Convention, CBC officials and a serving church official. The two former officials are Rev. Dr. Nditemeh Charlemagne, the immediate past CBC Executive President and Mr. Yosimbom Mkong John, the immediate past CBC Chairperson. While the serving CBC official concerned by the ruling is Rev. Jumbuin Enoch, Pastor for the Yaounde Field Council of CBC Churches (comprising the Centre and East Regions, and parts of the South and West Regions).  

Counsel For Plaintiffs 
Maître Fernand Honoré Tagouemekong counsel for the litigants, Luma Albert and Emi Emmanuel, told Cameroon Tribune on phone on Monday, December 15, 2025 that Rev. Dr. Nditemeh, Mr. Yosimbom Mkong and Rev. Jumbuin Enoch were all found guilty of breaking a court suspending the holding of CBC decentralized General Session elections in Yaounde in December 2024. And were sentenced to six months of imprisonment with suspension for three years. 

Further Sentences 
All three were also fined 5 million FCFA to be paid to Luma and Emi as damage. Finally, Barrister Tagouemekong said imprisonment warrants will be issued against the three CBC serving and former officials if the fine of 5 million FCFA is not paid; and they risk spending 9 months each in prison for that eventual offence. Meanwhile, the court also ordered the three to pay just above 200,000 FCFA into the public treasury as trial expenses, Tagouemekong added.
When reminded by this reporter that the CBC had already lodged an appeal against the ruling, Tagouemekong said execution of the other sentences would have to wait while the appeal is heard – but not the payment of the cost of trial to the public treasury. 

About Holding Of Elections 
In the matter which opened in the Yaounde Court of First Instance, Centre Administratif on Thursday, February 13, 2025, Emi Emmanuel and Albert Luma - both dismissed CBC members - had challenged the holding of CBC decentralized General Session elections on November 23, 2024 in Yaounde. Which they alleged, was in violation of a November 21, 2024 ruling by the Yaounde Court of First Instance, Centre Administratif. The order temporarily suspended the holding of the vote in Yaounde until the plaintiffs’ challenge of the amended CBC Constitution of 2023 had been settled definitely.

CBC’s Arguments
During the trial, counsel for the CBC had argued amongst others that the elections held in Obala in Lekie Division of the Centre Region, which is outside the jurisdiction of the Yaounde Court of First Instance, Centre Administratif. And so could not be said to have broken the November 21, 2024 court order.

Counsel For CBC
Reacting to the judgement, Barrister Sonkwa Victorine, lead counsel for the Cameroon Baptist Convention, CBC, said she was not in court in Yaounde on December 11, 2025 when the judgement was passed, but her colleagues were there to represent the CBC. 
“We already took an appeal the next day (Friday, December 12, 2025). Our client, the CBC is serene despite this judgement. We are confident the Centre Court of Appeal will quash the decision of the Yaounde Court of First Instance, Centre Administratif. The law provides for stay of execution of a sentence in the event of appeal; and this is what we have already done,” Barrister Sonkwa told Cameroon Tribune on phone on Saturday, December 13, 2025. 

Rev. Dr. Nditemeh Charlemagne
The immediate past Cameroon Baptist Convention Executive President, Rev. Dr. Nditemeh Charlemagne, said he was not also in court when the verdict was given. “Our lawyer sent me a message about the court judgement. I will just do what a litigant does with a judgment. I see it as a judgment - like any other judgment. That's all. Any litigant has the right to appeal. But whatever I will do about the judgement, I don't have an answer yet. This is my position,” Rev. Dr. Nditemeh told Cameroon Tribune on phone on December 13, 2025. 

Yosimbom Mkong John
The immediate past CBC Chairman Mr. Yosimbom Mkong John, also reacted to judgement on phone on Saturday December 13, 2025 thus: “My take on the judgement of December 11, 2025 against CBC officials is that God's will is what is important, not the will of man. I plan to appeal the judgement. If I were given the chance to carry out another CBC election today or to do anything that would glorify God, I would still do it because I fear God more than man; and more than the court.”  

Yaounde Field Pastor
Rev. Jumbuin Enoch, Pastor for the Yaounde Field Council of CBC Churches, said he heard of the judgment from the CBC’s lead counsel because he was not in Yaounde. “I am yet to get the details. The Cameroon Baptist Convention is intact and progressing. The church is not distracted by the court judgement. The CBC will certainly issue a statement on the matter,” Rev. Jumbuin told Cameroon Tribune on phone on December 13, 2025. 

Luma Albert Reacts
One of the plaintiffs, Albert Luma, reacted to the court ruling by phone from Buea on December 13, 202: “I was not in court in Yaounde on the day of the judgement. I was only informed by our lawyer. I think the judgement is the truth, it's sincerity. That is the truth. We wanted the truth to be out and the truth is out!  That's all. That is the truth, that is the truth, you know what I mean? 
“Oh, it's God's choice; God's takes the glory. There's nothing like self-aggrandizement here. We are simply there to see that things work in order, because that is a Biblical injunction that things should be done in decency and in order. 
They (CBC officials) violated our rules, they violated a court judgment. That was why they were taken to court. We did not take the matter to court. It's a criminal offence, they violated a court judgment., though the CBC said they did not violate the judgement. Now, the court has interpreted it. It was the CBC’s documents that our counsel used against their officials during the trial. We wanted the truth to be out and we thank God it is out.” Mr. Luma noted.

What Next?
Asked what will now happen after last weekend’s court ruling, Luma Albert responded: “The CBC officials have time to appeal and we are waiting for them to see if they will be humble to admit they erred. Then we will be ready to sit down and talk”
When questioned if he was actually ready to negotiate with the CBC, Mr. Luma answered: “Well, it should not be important, but the thing is that there can't be peace without justice. Can there be peace without justice? Peace is a direct product...