Judiciary: Two Candidates In Dangerous Contest For Appeal Court President

By Rita Davids

There are serious pressures on President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison the recommendation of the Nigerian Judicial Council, NJC to appoint Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensen as the President of the Court of Appeal.

The president had appointed Dongban Mensen in acting position since Justice Zainab Bulckachuwa, the immediate past president of the court retired in March this year.

Last week, the president again, extended her appointment for another three months, raising posers as to whether she will be confirmed.

But groups across the country have now warned the president, not to bow to pressures from certain quarters in the country not to confirm Justice Dongban Mensen in substantive position.

The acting court of Appeal president has been recommended by and the NJC Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) to the president for confirmation.

The magazine however learnt of efforts by certain elements in government to foist another judge on the president for confirmation.

“The acting President of the court of Appeal is not from the muslim north. That has worked against her, considering that the president’s men have always preferred a muslim dominated judiciary.

From the Supreme court down to the trial courts, the odds only favour core muslim northerners,” a Ministry of Justice office said on Wednesday.

He said what happened to Justice Walter Onnoghen, the immediate past Chief Justice of the Federation, CNJ was an indication that the presidency is very sensitive to appointing ‘outsiders’ to lead the bench.

Buhari had failed to appoint Justice Onnoghen as CJN despite trenchant criticism against him.

He was later appointed by then Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo after the president travelled to the United Kingdom, UK for medical treatment. Onnoghen was later removed in controversial circumstances.

Meanwhile, groups across the country have told the president to do what’s right by confirming the NJC nominee.

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), on Tuesday, charged President Muhammadu Buhari to go ahead in confirming Justice Dongban Mensen without any further delay.

In statement issued yesterday, Spokesmen of the forum, Yinka Odumakin (South West), Guy Ikokwu (South East), Bassey Henshaw (South-South) and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), the group told the president that this is the right thing to do, particularly at the times, when the president has been accused of favouring a section of the country with juicy government appointments.

SMBLF said “We are constrained to call on President Buhari to immediately confirm NJC nominee as the substantive President of the Court of Appeal without going through another acting term.

In this particular instance, it would manifest that the government is out to achieve some unfortunate goal if any attempt is made to jump to the next line.”

Also, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the President to be fair to all Nigerians in his appointments.

HURIWA said the feeling that some sections of the country are not being carried along posed danger to the country and can lead to a major crisis of mutual distrust.

The group, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and National Media Affairs Director, Zainab Yusuf, said President Buhari must begin to address the concerns of Nigerians on the matter.