Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Hon. Justice Monica Bolna'an Dongban-Mensem as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal with effect from March 6. The appointment was conveyed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu on Thursday, March, 5, who hinted that the approval of Justice Mensem's appointment followed the recommendation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad.
The recommendation was made in line with provisions of Section 238 (4) & (5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. According to Shehu, the appointment is for an initial period of three (3) months, when the incumbent President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, CFR, will statutorily retire from active service.
Justice Dongban-Mensen, mother of four children (one deceased) and four grandchildren hails from Shendam LGA of Plateau state. 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, Russel Square – London.
She is recognized as one of the hardest working Nigeria judicial officers. As at December 2019, she had over 150 Lead and 100 Contributory Judgments respectively. Justice Mensem is an authority in Criminal and Civil Procedure Law, Taxation and International Public Finance, Public International Law, Legislative Drafting, Constitutional and Administrative Law and International Commercial Transactions.
