Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem: 2nd Female President of the Court of Appeal
Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem from Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State is the incumbent President of the Nigerian Court of Appeal. This is after President Muhammadu Buhari appointed her as the substantive president of the court.
She succeeded Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, OFR another distinguished Abusite and Prominent Nigerian Judge who was the first female President of the Nigerian courts of appeal.
Who is Hon Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem?
Hon Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem was until her appointment the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Jos Division, Nigeria.
She 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.
After receiving 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, Justice Mensem was Registrar of Plateau State High Court in 1979 and Magistrate of various grades up to Chief Magistrate between 1981 and 1990.
She was Visiting Lecturer on Press Law at the Catholic Media Centre, Kaduna from 1988-1992 and Part-time Lecturer at the University of Jos between 1989 and 1997.
From 1990-1993 Hon Justice Monica 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. On transfer from the former, Mensem became the Judge, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Judiciary from 1997-2003.
Apart from being on several panels of investigation in the Plateau State Judiciary, she has performed numerous ad-hoc duties in the capacity of Secretary, Plateau State Law Report Committee, Secretary/Legal Adviser, Ad-hoc Committee on Widowhood Practices in Plateau State all in 1991 and a Pioneer Board Member/Legal Adviser, Plateau State Commission for Women from1991-1992 among several others.
She was also an Advisory Committee Member for FCT Judiciary on the National Centre for State Courts International Programs Division from 2001-2002 and was Acting Presiding Justice of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal between November and December 2009 before being elevated to her present position.
ALSO READ: Hon. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, CFR, JCA – First Female President, Court of Appeal
Justice Hon Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem is one of the hardest working Nigeria judicial officers. As at 3rd May, 2010, she had a record of 29 Lead Judgments and 47 Contributory Judgments published and numerous ones unpublished.
She has always led notable jurists to decide high profile and very interesting cases. These cover electoral, commercial, civil and criminal matters on appeal from the lower courts and court marshal decisions.
Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, despite the unending demands of huge office work, launched herself into the publishing hall of fame with the book she entitled “The Defendant,” in 1991. This book addresses the rights of the accused person and is an informative and resource material for lawyers and laypersons alike.
She has also presented thought provoking papers at different fora on numerous subjects like: Legal Implications of some Widowhood Practices in Nigeria; Right of Women and Children under the Nigerian Law; the Responsibilities of Judges, Lawyers and the Youths under the Nigerian Constitutions; the Role of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in the Participation of Women in Politics, among others.
Mensem’s impressive blend of intellectual and professional experience stems from coming from a family that values education and career excellence. Hence she became a strong and passionate advocate for qualitative education especially for the less privileged.
Having faced the challenge of going through school with limited resources, she strongly believes that the provision of scholarship to indigent but promising children would substantially enhance their dream of a fulfilled future.
Thus Mensem worked hard to make a modest but invaluable contribution to this end by establishing the Pa William Mensem Education and Scholarship Foundation (PAWMESFO) in May of 2009. PAWMESFO has been able to build a school, named after Mensem’s father, Pa William Mensem at Ngotuguut, in Plateau State.
Pa William Mensem Memorial School as it is now known elicited so much enthusiasm in not only the people of Ngotuguut but the neighboring villages and indeed, the whole of Plateau State.
While parents are eager to send their children to the school. The children on their own are zealous to enroll in what they commonly call “Monica’s School”. Full academic work started in February of this year.
Hon Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem loves writing, reading and golfing. She also delights in working with children, women and the elderly. She has strong religious beliefs and particularly dreams of a world where women and children are not seen as second-class citizens but rather treated with love and respect.
Justice Mensem is a mother of four children and grandchildren.
Indeed, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem is a gift to society. Her achievements have challenged other professionals and politicians whom she has apparently given a shove in the right direction.
For dedicating her life to the downtrodden and serving as a beacon of hope for women and children, many describe Mensem as the very essence of compassion and duty as well as the acme of love and generosity.
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