The Peace and Good Governance Advocates (PEGGA) has voiced worry about the recent media emphasis on the president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, regarding purported inconsistent court judgements on election petitions in Plateau State.
The group stated in a statement on Monday that there is no direct relationship between the appeal court president and the controversial judgements and voiced worry about why her name was being smeared on several tribal and political WhatsApp groups in Plateau State.
The group, in a statement issued by its national coordinator, Mani Imman, urged the Appeal Court president to place herself above all political or personal biases, given that the Plateau’s top political competitors are from the state.
“We are shocked that the person of the president of the Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem is being brought into the political battle for the soul of Plateau State.
“It is alleged that those who lost out in the main election are now alleged to be throwing up the person of the respected jurist into the melee. We call on them to desist as the interest of Plateau is above all.
“No one should push the state into unnecessary crisis just after a peaceable election. Those who have issues with the election should use the instrumentality of the law to address their issues.
“We, however, call on Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem to put herself above political biases no matter the pressure on her. We are praying for her to resist and to project justice on the Plateau in a way that she and her generations unborn will not regret causing any mayhem that would lead to the death of a Plateau indigene.”
“We trust that the Almighty who has brought her to the position of the number one justice in the Appellate Court will not allow her to be used to destroy the peace that is now in her state.”
