The Senate has confirmed Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem as the President of the Court of Appeal.
The confirmation of the nominee followed the presentation and consideration of the screening report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) is the chairman of the Committee.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in a letter urged the Senate to approve the nomination of Justice Dongban-Mensem as the President of Court of Appeal.
The President in a short tweet on his official Twitter handle, had tweeted the following, confirming sending the name of the Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem to the Senate for confirmation 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.
Presidency also 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 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