Gov. Mutfwang Distances Self from Call for Arrest of Appeal Court President 

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Plateau State Governor, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang, has distanced himself from the call by unknown Civil Society Organisation for the arrest of President of Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, over recent Appeal Court judgments, stressing that neither he nor any authorised representative has issued statements regarding the recent Appeal Court’s judgments.

In a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA), Mr. Gyang Bere, the governor described the press statement credited to faceless Civil Society Organisation as baseless and a mere fabrication targeted at tarnishing his image.

Calling on the Department of Security Service (DSS) and other security agencies to diligently investigate and apprehend the authors of this malicious article, Mutfwang alleged that the statement is consistent with the antics of mischief makers meant to create confusion and enmity between his administration and the citizens of his state.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Plateau State Governor, Mr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has been drawn to a baseless statement purported to have been issued by an unidentified group, suspected to be aligned with the opposition in the state, masquerading as a Civil Society Organisation.

“This group recklessly called for the arrest of the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem. Their claims hinge on the judgment of the Appeal Court that nullified two PDP National Assembly’s seats from Plateau.

“Governor Mutfwang unequivocally states that neither he nor any authorized representative has issued statements regarding the recent Appeal Court judgment. The PDP has not engaged any Civil Society Organization to comment on this matter.

“The spurious allegations against Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, accusing the Governor of supporting President Bola Tinubu’s administration and former Governor Nyesome Wike, are not only mere fabrications but also an attempt to tarnish the Governor’s image and consistent with the antics of mischief makers who had issued fake press statements to create confusion and enmity between the Mutfwang’s administration and the citizens of Plateau State in the first two months of his administration.”

The governor said that as a renowned lawyer with over three decades of practice, that he knows too well the workings of the courts, upholds the industry of their lordships, will never contemplate or support the subversion of justice or malign the integrity, character and honour of the President Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, who is also a daughter of Plateau State.

He added that as a staunch believer in the rule of law, he affirms his commitment to upholding the dignity of constituted authorities responsible for the dispensation of justice and leadership in the country and elsewhere.

“Hence, Governor Mutfwang calls upon all respected authorities and the public to dismiss this misleading article, meticulously crafted by mischief-makers aiming to besmirch the governor and the Plateau PDP,” the statement added.