Appeal Court gets another female President

History was made on June 19, 2020 when the Court of Appeal for the first time in its 46 years of existence witnessed a female to female change of baton.

Until this recent elevation, the Plateau state born jurist was Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division.

A Life Member of Body of Benchers, she recently made the headlines after she was seen controlling traffic in Abuja. She was hit by personal tragedy eight years ago, when she lost her son through an auto accident. She vowed to make the roads safer.

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, Russell Square – London, Justice Dongban-Mensem joined Plateau State judiciary as registrar in 1979.

The 62 years old adjudicator was a Magistrate of different grades up to Chief Magistrate between 1981 and 1990.

She served as Deputy Chief Registrar, Superior Courts and Protocol Affairs and was appointed Judge, High Court of Justice, Plateau State in 1993.  She was there up to 1996.

Eventually, she transferred her services to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) judiciary where served from 1997-2003. She was also an Advisory Committee Member for FCT Judiciary on the National Centre for State Courts International Programs Division from 2001-2002.

Hon. Justice Dongban-Mensem was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2003 and was Acting Presiding Justice of the Lagos Division between November and December 2009.

During her practice days as a lawyer, she brought the popular International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) to Northern Nigeria driving to different northern states to introduce the advocacy champions of women and children.

A woman of many parts she sponsors a daily programme on radio for kids, Bible Stories for Kids on Tin City FM.

This mother of four children and two grandchildren enjoys writing, reading, golfing, working with children, women and the elderly.