Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, and the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem, have commissioned a Mediation Centre and Magistrate Court in Ngototgut Community, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.
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The facility, donated by Justice Dongban-Mensem, forms part of activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria and the celebration of her 69th birthday.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Mutfwang commended the President of the Court of Appeal for what he described as a visionary initiative and a significant contribution to justice delivery, peacebuilding and community development.
The governor described Justice Dongban-Mensem as one of Plateau State’s most accomplished and distinguished daughters, whose service to the nation and commitment to grassroots development continue to inspire many.
According to him, the project reflects not only her judicial excellence but also her passion for improving the lives of people in her community and across the state.
“Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem has made Plateau State proud. Beyond her sterling judicial career, she has consistently demonstrated an uncommon commitment to the development of her community and the upliftment of our people. Today, we celebrate not just a judicial icon but a worthy ambassador of Plateau State,” Mutfwang said.
The governor also recalled his support for her emergence as substantive President of the Court of Appeal in 2020, noting that her eventual appointment represented a triumph of merit, integrity, competence and justice.
Mutfwang said the establishment of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre would significantly improve access to justice, especially for rural dwellers, by providing a faster, cheaper and less adversarial means of resolving disputes.
He noted that the centre would help reduce prolonged litigation, promote peaceful settlement of conflicts, preserve relationships and strengthen social cohesion in communities.
The governor added that the presence of the Mediation Centre and Magistrate Court would also attract further development to Ngototgut and surrounding communities, while deepening public confidence in the justice system.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening public institutions, expanding access to justice and accelerating development at the grassroots across Plateau State.
Highlighting ongoing interventions in Shendam Local Government Area, Mutfwang disclosed that his administration remained committed to completing inherited road infrastructure projects and revitalising critical economic assets in the locality.
“We are committed to upgrading our rural communities despite limited resources. The presence of this facility will undoubtedly serve as a catalyst for additional development in this community and across the Shendam Local Government Area.
“We will continue to mobilise contractors to ensure the completion of ongoing road projects, and we are also exploring ways to revamp the famous fishing facility in this area to boost local economic activities,” he said.
The governor also called for stronger collaboration between Plateau State and its distinguished sons and daughters occupying strategic national positions, stressing the need to leverage such positions to attract more federal projects and development initiatives to the state.
While congratulating Justice Dongban-Mensem on the dual milestones of the Court of Appeal’s golden jubilee and her 69th birthday, Mutfwang prayed for God’s continued grace, wisdom, strength and good health for her as she continues to serve the nation.
Earlier, Justice Dongban-Mensem said the Mediation Centre was conceived to decentralise justice administration and bring alternative dispute resolution mechanisms closer to people at the grassroots.
She said mediation provides disputing parties with a quicker, more cost-effective and less confrontational avenue for resolving conflicts, while also preserving relationships and promoting social harmony.
“Mediation offers disputing parties a quicker, more cost-effective, and less confrontational avenue for resolving conflicts while preserving relationships and promoting social harmony,” she said.
Justice Dongban-Mensem added that the facility would reduce prolonged litigation, ease the burden on courts and deepen access to justice for citizens in rural communities.
In separate goodwill messages, former Plateau State Governor and Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, Senator Simon Bako Lalong; Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Daniel Nanlong; and the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Hon. Justice David Mann, commended Justice Dongban-Mensem for her contributions to judicial reform, community development and nation-building.
They described the project as a transformative intervention that would strengthen justice delivery, foster peace and accelerate development in Shendam and neighbouring communities.
The commissioning ceremony attracted judicial officers, traditional rulers, political leaders, legal practitioners, community stakeholders and residents, who gathered to celebrate what many described as a landmark project expected to leave a lasting legacy in Plateau State’s justice sector.
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