The Senate has confirmed Monica Dongban-Mensem as the president of the court of appeal.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday forwarded her name to the senate following rising concern that she may not be named as president.
Dongban-Mensem was confirmed after Opeyemi Bamidele, chairman of the committee on judiciary and legal matters, presented his report in which he said, The committee interviewed her and received explanation about her career. That the appointment of the nominee satisfies the requirements of the constitution as amended. Having screened the nominee and satisfied with her competence, the committee do recommend the confirmation of Monica Dongban-Mensem as the president of the court of appeal.”
The Senate President Ahmad Lawan had on Wednesday said the confirmation of the judge would be expedited to avoid “a constitutional crisis.”
Dongban-Mensem has been acting as head of the appellate court since the retirement of Zainab Bulkachuwa in March. The National Judicial Council (NJC) had recommended her appointment as the substantive head of the court, but the president did not send her name to the senate for confirmation until Tuesday.
The president had extended her tenure as acting president of the court till September. There had been reports that she may not be named as president to favour Mohammed Lawal Garba who was the judge who chaired the 2019 presidential election petitions tribunal. The tribunal ruled in favour of Buhari.
