After deploying delaying tactics, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday forwarded the name of Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem to the senate for confirmation as the substantive President of the Court of Appeal.
The foot-dragging had raised concerns and resulted in insinuations that there had been surreptitious moves by the attorney general of the federation and justice minister, Mr. Abubakar Malami, to deny Dongban-Mensem the office and elevate the number two man whose religion and ethnicity conform to certain expectations.
Buhari came under scathing attacks from all quarters with a former military governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd.) writing an open letter to the president and accusing him of lopsided appointments, citing the delay in approving the nomination of Justice Dongban-Mensem as an instance.
However, presidential spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu said in a statement in Abuja yesterday that the president had forwarded the judge’s name for confirmation in accordance with his constitutional duty.
“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.
“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,” Shehu stated.
He added that her appointment followed her initial recommendation for the post by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
