Finally, Dongban-Mensem Is Appeal Court President

By Adesina Soyooye

The Senate, on Thursday, confirmed the Hon. Justice Monica Dongbam-Mensem as the President of the Court of Appeal.

By confirming her, the Senate put to an end the anxiety and apprehension which trailed her non- confirmation since the end of her acting period.

She was appointed in an acting capacity as required, on the retirement of her predecessor, but apprehension set-in when President Muhammadu Buhari did not send her name to the Senate for cofirmation at the end of her first three months in an acting capacity. Instead, her acting position was renewed.

Speculation set in that the President was reluctant to confirm her because he did not want a Christian in that position. Pressure was brought to bear, and questions asked from different quarters.

The delay in confirming her reminded many of the fate that befell former Chief Justice of Nigeria, The Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen. The reluctance by Buhari to send his name for  confirmation  was obvious and embarrassing.

Finally, it was  Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who sent his name for confirmation when he was Acting President.

Remarkably, Onnoghen’s tenure ended abruptly, when he was forced to resign over charges brought against him by the Code of Conduct Bereau. He was hauled before the Code of Conduct Tribunal which, in an unprecedented manner, found him guilty and convicted him. He was humiliated out of office.

The pressure on President Buhari to confirm Dongban-Mensem attracted a reaction from the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, to the President, Garba Shehu. He explained, unconvincinly, that Justice Dongbam- Mensem was going through security checks. 24 hours after Shehu’s explanation, it may have been coincidental, her name was forwarded by Buhari, to the Senate, for confirmation.

On Thursday, based on the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, the whole Senate confirmed her appointments as the President of the Court of Appeal.