President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem as the acting President of the Court of Appeal with effect from March 6, 2020.
Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem takes over from Justice Bulkachuwa as she attains the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
As she also exits from the bench, Justice Bulkachuwa reflected on her 45 years of judicial service.
Glowing tributes were showered on now retired Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa for her contributions to the development of the judiciary.
Many believe her legacies will strengthen the administration of justice in Nigeria.
Justice bulkachuwa reached the peak of her career, as the first female president of the court of appeal in 2012. With her exit, there will be about 84 justices left on the Court of Appeal bench.
some of her achievements includes the upgrading and commissioning of several court complexes including the Lagos division, and the creation of new ones.
She canvassed for better working conditions for her former colleagues, more funding for the court, restructuring of the court system and reduction of the huge pile of cases
One controversy she finally weathered was her membership of the 2019 presidential election petition tribunal, whilst being married to a senator who is a member of the all progressives party.
Though the court ruled that the petition of the peoples democratic party had no merit, she chose to withdraw from the tribunal.
Justice Bulkachuwa is also celebrated as a great pillar for the girl-child in Nigeria. Her successor, also a woman who will serve in acting capacity for three months.
Justice Bulkachuwa was inaugurated as a Justice of the Court of Appeal on 9th of December, 1998.
She became the acting President of the court in November 2012 and the substantive President in April 2014.
