The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has come under fire following a notice announcing a special sitting of the court scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2025, outside its regular headquarters in Abuja.
Details of the Special Sitting
The notice, issued by Justice Dongban-Mensem, stated that the appellate court would convene at 9:00am or shortly thereafter at Ngwa Rina Ngoot Long, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State. This development comes as the Court of Appeal marks its 50th anniversary, with plans for a special session of the court.
Criticism and Allegations
However, concerns have been raised over the decision to hold the sitting at a location that is not one of the recognised seats of the Court of Appeal. A critic, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, reacting to the development on social media, alleged that the decision amounted to an abuse of office, arguing that the venue was chosen because it is the hometown of the Court of Appeal President.
The notice indicated that matters have been listed for determination during the sitting and invited members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Shendam Branch, to attend as a gesture of courtesy and solidarity to the appellate court.
Context and Response
The Court of Appeal, Nigeria’s second-highest court, handles appeals from federal and state courts and operates through divisions across the country. When contacted, the Special Assistant to the President of the Court of Appeal confirmed that the event formed part of the Court’s 50th anniversary commemorations and involved the inauguration of the Court of Appeal Mediation Centre. However, when further asked to provide an official explanation for holding the special sitting outside the Court’s established headquarters, as well as the legal and administrative basis for convening such a historic session away from its official seat, she declined to comment.
