8th June, 2020
President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the Senate to confirm Justice Monica Dongbam-Mensem as President Court of Appeal.
In a statement today, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu said Buhari has sent the request in-line with his constitutional responsibility.
Justice Monica Dongbam-Mensem has been acting for more than three months as the president of the court after the retirement of Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa.
Dongbam-Mensem is from Plateau state
There were some speculations that Buhari did not want to confirm her, because she is a Christian.
But on Sunday, Shehu debunked the speculation and said the President was awaiting security clearance, before nominating the judge.
Less than 24 hours after, the president sent her name for confirmation.
Justice Dongbam-Mensem was initially nominated by the National Judicial Council to the President.
Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem, 62 years old, is from Plateau State.
She recently made the headlines after she was seen controlling traffic in Abuja.
She was hit by personal tragedy eight years ago, when she lost her son through an auto accident. She vowed to make the roads safer.
She received her LL.B and LL.M from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria-Nigeria and a Post Graduate Diploma from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, Russell Square – London.
She then joined Plateau State judiciary as registrar in 1979.
She served at various times as Magistrate of various grades up to Chief Magistrate between 1981 and 1990.
From 1990-1993 Justice Dongban-Mensem served as Deputy Chief Registrar, Superior Courts and Protocol Affairs and was appointed Judge, High Court of Justice, Plateau Judiciary from 1993-1996.
She became a the Judge of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Judiciary from 1997-2003.
She is a woman of many parts. In Jos, she sponsors a daily programme on radio for kids, Bible Stories For Kids on Tin City FM.
She was also an Advisory Committee Member for FCT Judiciary on the National Centre for State Courts International Programs Division from 2001-2002 .
She was also Acting Presiding Justice of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal between November and December 2009.