Update: Buhari nominates Monica Dongban-Mensem as court of appeal president to the senate

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent the nomination of Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the Acting President, Court of Appeal, to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive President Court of Appeal in line with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

This was disclosed by President Buhari in a tweet posted this afternoon through his official twitter handle.

The president in his statement said, ”I have sent the nomination of Justice Monica Dongban Mensen, Acting President Court of Appeal to the Senate for confirmation as President Court of Appeal in line with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council”.

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I have sent the nomination of Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Acting President, Court of Appeal, to the Senate for confirmation as President, Court of Appeal, in line with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) June 8, 2020

Monica Dongban-Mensem who is the most senior Judge of the court of appeal was first appointed in an acting capacity in March 5, 2020, for an initial term of 3 months, following the retirement of the then President court of appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa and subsequent recommendation from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Muhammad.

Her tenure in acting capacity was further extended for another 3 months in May 29, 2020, following the expiration of the initial 3 months.

Although some of the critics expressed concerns at the delay in the confirmation of Dongban-Mensen ad the appeal court president, the presidential media aide, Garba Shehu, said that the president is not a rubber stamp and would rather wait for relevant security clearance before her confirmation.

Going further, Shehu said that this is not about ethnicity or religion but rather security and law enforcement agencies being allowed to complete their work and as such the president should not be stampeded in carrying out his constitutional responsibilities.