By Kolawole Ojebisi
President Muhammadu Buhari has sent the nomination of Justice (Mrs) Monica Dongban-Mensem, acting president of the court of appeal, to the senate for confirmation.
This was announced on Monday in a statement by Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity.
Justice Dongban-Mensem has been acting as head of the appellate court since the retirement of Zainab Bulkachuwa in March.
Although the National Judicial Council (NJC) had earlier recommended her to the president for nomination as the substantive head of the Court of Appeal, Buhari did not act on that recommendation until now.
Recall that President Buhari had extended her time in acting capacity as president of the Court of Appeal till September.
It would also be recalled that the president’s inaction on the nomination of Justice Dongban-Mensem to the Senate for confirmation had attracted intense criticisms from different quarters. But the most recent one was in an open by retired Colonel Abubakar Umar, a former military governor of old Kaduna state.
Col Umar had in his letter alleged lopsidedness in the President’s appointments, urging the President to remedy the situation or impression by ensuring that Justice Dongban-Mensem is not by-passed for nomination as president of the Court of Appeal.
But in response to these allegations, the presidency had said that Buhari was still awaiting security reports and clearance on Justice Dongban-Mensem that would guide him in making an appropriate decision on the matter.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu had in a statement on Sunday explained this process as the reason why the President was yet to act on Dongban-Mensem’s matter.
However, in a statement on Monday, Shehu said Buhari has transmitted her name to the senate in line with his “constitutional responsibility”.
“President Muhammadu Buhari, in-line with his constitutional responsibility has sent the nomination of Her Lordship, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Acting President, Court of Appeal to the Senate for confirmation as President, Court of Appeal,” the statement read.
“Justice Dongban-Mensem is a serving Justice of the Court of Appeal and was recommended, as is the practice, by the National Judicial Council for the nomination by the President.”
