Appeal Court’s President under fire over special Saturday sitting in hometown

The Court of Appeal has come under criticism following a notice announcing a special sitting of the court scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2025, outside its regular headquarters in Abuja.

The notice, issued by the President of the Court of Appeal, Monica Dongban-Mensem, stated that the appellate court would sit by 9:00am or shortly thereafter at Ngwa Rina Ngoot Long, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The development comes as the Court of Appeal marks its 50th anniversary, with plans for a special session of the court.

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, @ChidiOdinkalu reacting to the development, 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.

The Court of Appeal, Nigeria’s second-highest court, handles appeals from federal and state courts and operates through divisions across the country.

When the Special Assistant to the President of the Court of Appeal was contacted, she 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.(Guardian)