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62-year-old Justice Monica Dogban-Mesem has assumed office as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
Justice Dogban-Mesem was sworn in as the Appeal Court President by the Chief Justice of Nigeria [CJN], Justice Tanko Muhammad, on Friday.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the ceremonial court of the Supreme Court in Abuja.
Eight justices of the Supreme Court joined CJN Muhammad to perform the swearing-in ceremony.
The Justices were Olukayode Ariwoola, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, Sylvester Ngwuta, Uwani Abba-Aji, Amina Augie, Ejembi Eko, and Paul Galumje.
Justices of the Court of Appeal and heads of other federal courts, as well as governors Simon Lalong of Plateau State and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State were in attendance to witness the event.
The ceremony was preceded by her nomination for the position by the National Judicial Council [NJC].
Dongban-Mesem was appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday upon the retirement of Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.
Justice Bulkachuwa, on her part, had retired after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years on Friday.
Speaking during the event, the CJN expressed confidence in her abilities, describing her as “a seasoned judicial officer”.
He said: “She knows the work very well and she has been doing her job satisfactorily well.
“It was her working hard that has enticed both the Court of Appeal and the National Judicial Council to uplift her to the position of the President of the Court of Appeal.”
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He urged her to continue to be charismatic and carry out her tasks diligently and to always consult with her colleagues and pay visits to the court’s divisions in the various parts of the country.
This, he said, will help her to be abreast with information about latest developments in those places.
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Dogban-Mesem who hails from Plateau State.
She was a law graduate of Ahmadu Bello University.
She was appointed a judge of Plateau State High Court in 1993.
In 1996, she was transferred to Abuja and became a judge of the Federal Capital Territory.
Dogban-Mesem was elevated to the Court of Appeal bench in 2003.
She was the Presiding Justice of the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal until her appointment as the Acting President of the court.
