“Somebody Can Have All The Degrees, Awards, Power, Popularity, Wealth, But Still Lacks Integrity”, Sir Dr. Ntumfor Barrister NICO HALLE

Asserts That Integrity Is Not Awarded Or Bought, But That Somebody Builds It By Embracing Core Moral Values Which Include Honesty, Peace, Justice, Love, Accountability, Respect, Equity, Transparency,  And Above All The Fear Of The Lord.

 The reputed Peace and Anti-Corruption Crusader, Sir Dr. Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, an International Legal Consultant, has asserted that somebody can have all the degrees, wealth, awards, power or popularity, but still lacks integrity, because those things do not give or bring integrity. In other words, they cannot transform somebody into a man or woman of integrity. He says integrity is not given, bought or awarded, nor does somebody have to go to school to learn to be a man or woman of integrity. “Even if you have a PhD, it does not make you a man or a woman of integrity”, he has asserted.

Rather, Ntumfor Halle has explained that integrity is a virtue. It is a value that is built or cultivated.  He says somebody builds or cultivates the spirit of integrity by embracing, or tenaciously sticking to core moral values that include honesty, love, Justice, accountability, peace, equity, transparency, respect, and above all the fear of the Lord. Halle has stressed the fact that it is the respect or practice of these core moral values that make somebody a man or woman of integrity. This ties up with the dictionary definition of integrity, which is the quality of being honest, and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change.   The moral principles are of course the core moral values.

A Talk On Integrity

Sir Dr Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle was speaking while giving a talk on INTEGRITY, at the conference room of the Nico Halle & Co Law Firm in the nation’s economic capital, Douala, on Friday, July 11, 2025. This was when the re-elected President of the Douala Chapter of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ – D, Ndih Maureen, came to present her team and road map to Ntumfor Halle who is the National Patron of CAMASEJ, as well as the Patron of CAMASEJ D.

Public Funds, Or The Funds Of An Association, Is Not Private Funds

Meanwhile, Sir Dr. Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle said if he opted to give a talk on integrity, it is because from all indications, people of integrity are increasingly becoming rare in the society, and that  is  the reason why our society is what it is today. He said even in our Churches, some Pastors and Priests have issues with integrity, because of their misdeeds. Halle stated that all those that loot and plunder what belongs to the State, and thus to all Cameroonians, are not people of integrity. Rather, he said an embezzler of State funds, or funds that belong to an association, an enterprise, an organization, a group or whatever, is a thief, and thus somebody who lacks integrity. Halle emphasized the fact that public funds belong to the State, and that the funds of an association belongs to the association, and that these funds are not private funds. And so those entrusted by the Government, or associations, organizations, enterprises and so on, to manage or keep these funds, have no right to use it the way they want, or to transform them into private funds. He stressed that an embezzler is a thief as he unscrupulously grabs what does not belongs to him, and so is a man that lacks integrity. .

All The Parties Involve In A Corruption Deal Are Wrong, And Lack Integrity

The Anti – Corruption Crusader, Ntumfor Halle, said anybody who corrupts, or who is involve in an act of corruption, be he the receiver or giver of the bribe, lacks integrity. He insisted that there are often two parties in any act of corruption; the person who demands and receive bribe, and the person who accepts to give the bribe. He explained that even if the person who demands and receives bribe, is to be blamed the more for being at the origin of the criminal act, the person who accepts to give the bribe, is also wrong and is part of the corruption, and thus somebody that also lacks integrity. Though the tendency in the society, is for people to find only the person who demands and receives bribe as being the person  culpable, Halle insisted that  a man of integrity would resists demands or pressure, to give bribe.

Halle said it is the same thing in a case where a person proposes to give bribe.  Even if the person who proposes and gives the bribe, in whatever form, is to be blame the more for being a the origin of the criminal act, the person who accepts the money or whatever is  part of the corruption, and thus is also somebody who lacks integrity.  He insisted that a man of integrity would refuse to accept the bribe, adding that when somebody gives bribe, he promotes corruption which is sin.  Halle said in the case where a third party or a middle man is involved in a corruption deal, the person too is part of the criminal act. He said somebody of integrity will not accept for whatever reason to be a middle man in a corruption deal, for it is criminal.

Core Moral Values – Honesty, Accountability, Transparency

Sir Dr Ntunfor Barrister Nico Hlalle said while core moral values make somebody a man of integrity, the opposite of the core moral values make somebody to be an opposite of a man of integrity.  He pointed out that a man who is not honest, is somebody who lacks integrity. He said an honest person, as a man of integrity, will not involve himself, either directly or indirectly, in malpractices in the society like election rigging of any form.

As regards justice as a core moral value, Halle asserted that a man that acts unjustly is a man who lacks integrity. He said an honest person is somebody who values or embraces the truth, he is somebody who speaks or sticks to the truth no matter the consequences, he is somebody who respects himself, he is man of honour, he is somebody to be trusted, and he is a man of integrity.

A man that is corrupt lacks integrity. A man who is not accountable for his records or acts, or better still a leader who does not render accounts to the people, to members of his association or organization, just as the manager of a company who does not render accounts to shareholders, the driver of a public transport vehicle who does not render account to the proprietor, the head of a Church (domination) who does not render account to the Christians or members of that Church, is a man or woman who lacks integrity. Halle quickly added that accountability goes along with transparency, and that somebody who is not transparent with his record as a leader or in a post he occupies, is not a person of integrity.

Core Moral Values – Equity, Peace And Justice          

Ntumfor Halle as well talked about equity, fairness. He said somebody who lacks the spirit of equity, the spirit of being fair to others, is a person that lacks integrity. He said if for example bottles of water are placed on the table for each person in the room to take one, and somebody, takes advantage of being the eldest person in the room, to take two bottles, the person is being unfair to the others, and thus is somebody who lacks integrity.

As regard peace and justice as core moral values, the reputed Peace Crusader, Ntumfor Halle, stated that the importance of peace in a society or country cannot be over emphasized. He noted that peace is the word that on each and every day, is on the lips of the Cameroonian people, even though it is unfortunately more  of talking that acting in the promotion of peace . As regard justice, Halle insisted that genuine peace, and real justice, go hand –in- hand, they are inter-woven, for there can be no genuine peace in a society or community, if there is no justice.

Core Moral Values – Genuine Love

Sir Dr. Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle also laid emphasis on the link between love which is a core moral value, and integrity, a virtue that is built on love.  He asserted that when somebody nurtures the spirit of love, he strives to avoid doing evil, he strives to avoid doing wrong, and he strives to avoid hurting somebody. He held that the spirit of love enables the person to resist the temptation of committing a crime or an evil act.  Halle stated for example that when somebody loves his country, he cannot embezzle public funds, or do anything wrong against his country. He asserted that genuine patriots don’t embezzle public funds or do anything wrong to their country. Halle added that the President or Treasurer of a village development association for example, will not embezzle or pilfer the funds of that association, if he loves his community.

 The Fear Of The Lord

Sir Dr Ntunfor Barrister Ni Halle, who is a highly committed Christian, and is spiritually strong, always says that his most cherished title is Christian. The fear of the Lord is to Ntumfor Halle, the biggest or highest core moral values. Halle said though perfection is not of this world, anybody that daily strives to act in the fear of the Lord, is somebody that strives to avoid to do something wrong,, and is a man of integrity

Turning to the President of CAMASEJ D, Ndih Maureen, who is of Canal 2 international, Ntumfor Halle stressed that leaders at all levels have an obligation to strive to be persons of integrity. He said as leaders, they have to show in their leadership, good examples of integrity to their members, to emulate. He said a leader who is dishonest for example, has no moral authority to question dishonest members.

Halle told the CAMASEJ D. President, that she as President or leader of the Chapter is expected to strive to demonstrate a high sense of attachment to integrity, by embracing honesty, accountability, justice, peace, transparency, fair play, and the fear of the Lord, in the way she runs the Chapter.