President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday 8th June 2020, submitted the name of the Acting President of Appeal Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem to the National Assembly for her confirmation as President of the Court of Appeal. This is in line with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.
The President in a short tweet on his official Twitter handle, tweeted the following, confirming the nomination of Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem as President of the Appeal Court. He said:
“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,” the President said.
This statement comes after the Presidency on Sunday, explained the delay in the confirmation of Justice Monca Dongban-Mensem, as President of the Appeal Court, after holding the post in an acting capacity. The Presidency had said that the appointment of Monica Dongban-Mensem as the President of the Court of Appeal was yet to be confirmed, because relevant security agencies are yet to conclude her screening.
Garba Shehu, Mr Buhari’s spokesperson, in a statement, said Mr Buhari was not a ‘rubber stamp’ and would await relevant security clearance before confirming Mrs Dongban-Mensem for the position.
“In the specific case of the Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Her Lordship Justice M. S Dongban-Mensem, the statutory regulatory time of her acting period has not lapsed,” Mr Shehu wrote.
“This is not about ethnicity or religion. It about security and law enforcement agencies being allowed to complete their work. Nobody should seek to stampede the President in carrying out his constitutional duty in this respect,” he added