There is a grand plan to stop\u00a0Monica Bolna\u2019an Dongban-Mensem from being appointed the substantive president of the court of appeal (PCA), TheCable can report.<\/b><\/p>\n
Rather, there is a push for Mohammed Lawal Garba, who chaired the 2019 presidential election petitions tribunal, to be appointed in her place.<\/p>\n
Although tongues are wagging that it is because\u00a0Dongban-Mensem is a minority northern Christian and Garba is a northern Muslim, TheCable understands that the intrigues are more political than ethnic or religious.<\/p>\n
The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) had recommended both\u00a0Dongban-Mensem and Lawal \u2014 in that order \u2014 to the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to replace\u00a0Zainab Bulkachuwa, who retired in March 2020 having clocked 70.<\/p>\n
Dongban-Mensem, from Plateau state, is the most senior judge in the federal court of appeal.<\/p>\n
The NJC forwarded\u00a0Dongban-Mensem\u2019s name to President Muhammadu Buhari for onward transmission to the senate for confirmation.<\/p>\n
However, Buhari is yet to send her name for confirmation nearly three months later.<\/p>\n
Instead, he appointed her in a protem position and recently renewed it for another three months, which could see her act as PCA till September 2020<\/p>\n
TheCable understands that dirt-digging is now being employed by presidential advisers to get\u00a0Dongban-Mensem disqualified and pave the way for Garba.<\/p>\n
Her national youth service record is being scrutinised, but TheCable learnt that she did serve in 1980\/81.<\/p>\n
More so, according to government insiders, it would be \u201cmysterious\u201d to question the credentials of someone who has been screened by both the\u00a0FJSC \u2014 of which Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, is a member \u2014 and the NJC.<\/p>\n
Garba, the preferred candidate, chaired the presidential election petitions tribunal which\u00a0ruled in favour of Buhari<\/a><\/b>\u00a0in September 2019.<\/p>\n