By Hamilton Nwosa(Head, The New Diplomat’s Business and data tracking desk)
The Presidency has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to confirm Justice(Mrs) Monica Dongban-Mensem as the substantive President of the Court of Appeal.
According to the Presidency, the reason for the President’s delay or inaction so far has to do with the fact that the appropriate security agencies are still carrying out their screening on her.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement issued on Sunday explained that Buhari was still awaiting reports from the appropriate security agencies who are yet to turn in their reports or clearance, before undertaking the confirmation of Justice(Mrs) Dongban-Mensem for the substantive role of President of the Court of Appeal.
Shehu explained: “In the specific case of the Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Her Lordship Justice M. S Dongban-Mensem, the statutory regulatory time of her acting period has not lapsed. This is not about ethnicity or religion. It about security and law enforcement agencies being allowed to complete their work. Nobody should seek to stampede the President in carrying out his constitutional duty in this respect.”
It would be recalled that previously President Buhari’s had granted approval for Justice Dongban-Mensem to continue in acting capacity for three months pending further determination. Reports also had it that the National Judicial Council (NJC) had recommended Dongban-Mensem to the President for confirmation.
While reacting to this development recently, a former governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Umar(retired) had faulted the president for alleged lopsidedness in his appointments, citing the pending case of Dongban-Mensem.
Umar had written, among other things, in his open letter to Buhari thus: “As it is, the most senior Judge, Justice Monica Dongban Mensem, a northern Christian, is serving out her second three-month term as acting Chief Judge without firm prospects that she will be confirmed substantive head.
“I do not know Justice Mensem but those who do attest to her competence, honesty and humility. She appears eminently qualified for appointment as the substantive Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal as she is also said to be highly recommended by the National Judicial Council.”
