Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, yesterday officially swore in Justice Abdul Kafarati as the new chief judge of Federal High Court.
This came nine months after he was first sworn in as acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati, it would be recalled was sworn in as the substantive Chief Judge of the court before now. Justice Abdul Kafarati Kafarati succeeds Ibrahim Auta whose tenure lapsed in September 2017.
He was sworn in after a brief oath taking ceremony at about 2 p.m.
Justice Kafarati assumed office as acting Chief Judge following the failure of President Buhari to forward his name to the Senate ahead the end of Justice Auta’s tenure, as required by Section 250 (4) of the constitution.
Three months after he was first sworn in as acting Chief Judge, Kafarati’s appointment was renewed by Justice Onnoghen in December resulting in an expiration of Justice Kafarati’s tenure as acting Chief Judge in March.
President Buhari eventually forwarded Justice Kafarati’s name to the Senate on June 5.
Speaking during the swearing in ceremony, Justice Onnoghen urged the new Chief Judge to be optimistic about moving the judiciary to its desired position in the nation’s democracy.
