of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem
There is a grand plan to stop Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem
from being appointed the substantive president of the court of
appeal (PCA), TheCable
reports[1]
Rather, there is a push for Mohammed Lawal Garba, who chaired
the 2019 presidential election petitions tribunal, to be appointed
in her place.
Although tongues are wagging that because Dongban-Mensem is a
minority northern Christian while Garba is a northern Muslim,
TheCable understands that the intrigues are more political than
ethnic or religious.
The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) had recommended
both Dongban-Mensem and Lawal — in that order — to the National
Judicial Commission (NJC) to replace Zainab Bulkachuwa, who retired
in March 2020 having clocked 70.
Dongban-Mensem, from Plateau state, is the most senior judge in
the federal court of appeal.
The NJC forwarded Dongban-Mensem’s name to President Muhammadu
Buhari for onward transmission to the senate for confirmation.
However, Buhari is yet to send her name for confirmation nearly
three months later.
Instead, he appointed her in a protem position and recently
renewed it for another three months, which could see her act as PCA
till September 2020.
TheCable understands that dirt-digging is now being employed by
presidential advisers to get Dongban-Mensem disqualified and
pave the way for Garba.
Her national youth service record is being scrutinised, but
TheCable learnt that she did serve in 1980/81.
More so, according to government insiders, it would be
“mysterious” to question the credentials of someone who has been
screened by the FJSC, of which Abubakar Malami, the
attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, is a
member, and the NJC.
Garba, the preferred candidate, chaired the presidential
election petitions tribunal which ruled in favour of Buhari in
September 2019.
Garba had replaced Bulkachuwa as chairman of the tribunal
following protest by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
over an alleged conflict of interest.
Bulkachuwa’s husband is a senator on the platform of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) — the president’s party.
UMAR WEIGHS IN
On Sunday, Abubakar Umar, a retired colonel and former military
governor of Kaduna state, warned Buhari that his “lopsided
appointments will ruin Nigeria”.
In the widely circulated letter, he wrote: “May I also invite
the attention of Mr. President to the pending matter of appointment
of a Chief Judge of the Nigerian Court Appeal which appears to be
generating public interest. 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. If she is not and is bypassed in favor of the
next in line who happens to be another northern Muslim, that would
be truly odd.
“In which case, even the largest contingent of PR gurus would
struggle to rebut the charges that you, Mr. President, is either
unwilling or incapable of acting on your pledge to belong to
everyone — and to no one. I hope you would see your way into
pausing and reflecting on the very grave consequences of such
failure not just to your legacy but to the future of our great
country.”
WHO IS DONGBAN-MENSEM?
- Born on June 13, 1957, to the family of M.B. Douglas-Mensem, a
retired appeal court justice - Hails from Shendam LGA, Plateau state
- Earned her LL.B and LL.M degrees from ABU, Zaria
- Appointed judge of the high court in Plateau in 1993
- Transferred her service to the federal capital territory (FCT)
judiciary in 1997 - Elevated to the court of appeal in 2003
- Sworn in as the acting president, court of appeal, on March 6,
2020 - Has four children and two grandchildren
Editors Note; Written by Sodiq
Yusuff and originally published in
Thecable.ng[2]
of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem
There is a grand plan to stop Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem
from being appointed the substantive president of the court of
appeal (PCA), TheCable
reports[1]
Rather, there is a push for Mohammed Lawal Garba, who chaired
the 2019 presidential election petitions tribunal, to be appointed
in her place.
Although tongues are wagging that because Dongban-Mensem is a
minority northern Christian while Garba is a northern Muslim,
TheCable understands that the intrigues are more political than
ethnic or religious.
The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) had recommended
both Dongban-Mensem and Lawal — in that order — to the National
Judicial Commission (NJC) to replace Zainab Bulkachuwa, who retired
in March 2020 having clocked 70.
Dongban-Mensem, from Plateau state, is the most senior judge in
the federal court of appeal.
The NJC forwarded Dongban-Mensem’s name to President Muhammadu
Buhari for onward transmission to the senate for confirmation.
However, Buhari is yet to send her name for confirmation nearly
three months later.
Instead, he appointed her in a protem position and recently
renewed it for another three months, which could see her act as PCA
till September 2020.
TheCable understands that dirt-digging is now being employed by
presidential advisers to get Dongban-Mensem disqualified and
pave the way for Garba.
Her national youth service record is being scrutinised, but
TheCable learnt that she did serve in 1980/81.
More so, according to government insiders, it would be
“mysterious” to question the credentials of someone who has been
screened by the FJSC, of which Abubakar Malami, the
attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, is a
member, and the NJC.
Garba, the preferred candidate, chaired the presidential
election petitions tribunal which ruled in favour of Buhari in
September 2019.
Garba had replaced Bulkachuwa as chairman of the tribunal
following protest by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
over an alleged conflict of interest.
Bulkachuwa’s husband is a senator on the platform of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) — the president’s party.
UMAR WEIGHS IN
On Sunday, Abubakar Umar, a retired colonel and former military
governor of Kaduna state, warned Buhari that his “lopsided
appointments will ruin Nigeria”.
In the widely circulated letter, he wrote: “May I also invite
the attention of Mr. President to the pending matter of appointment
of a Chief Judge of the Nigerian Court Appeal which appears to be
generating public interest. 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. If she is not and is bypassed in favor of the
next in line who happens to be another northern Muslim, that would
be truly odd.
“In which case, even the largest contingent of PR gurus would
struggle to rebut the charges that you, Mr. President, is either
unwilling or incapable of acting on your pledge to belong to
everyone — and to no one. I hope you would see your way into
pausing and reflecting on the very grave consequences of such
failure not just to your legacy but to the future of our great
country.”
WHO IS DONGBAN-MENSEM?
- Born on June 13, 1957, to the family of M.B. Douglas-Mensem, a
retired appeal court justice - Hails from Shendam LGA, Plateau state
- Earned her LL.B and LL.M degrees from ABU, Zaria
- Appointed judge of the high court in Plateau in 1993
- Transferred her service to the federal capital territory (FCT)
judiciary in 1997 - Elevated to the court of appeal in 2003
- Sworn in as the acting president, court of appeal, on March 6,
2020 - Has four children and two grandchildren
Editors Note; Written by Sodiq
Yusuff and originally published in
Thecable.ng[2]