By Taiye Odewale Abuja Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Senate may today confi rm the nomination of Hon. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). Strong indication to this eff ect emerged yesterday with the announcement by the Senate President Bukola Saraki, during plenary, that the hearing confi rmation of Justice Onnoghen as the number one judicial offi cer in the country, would hold at the Senate chamber of National Assembly today.
Th e Senate had, on Tuesday, February 21, confi rmed receiving a letter from Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, requesting the confi rmation of Justice Onnoghen as the CJN. Th e letter was read by Saraki at the plenary, after four weeks of suspending sitting for 2017 budget defence by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs of the federal government. Saraki said the letter, dated February 7, urged the Senate to confi rm Onnoghen pursuant to Section 231 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC), I hereby notify you of the appointment of Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN),” the letter read. Th e letter came four months after President Muhammadu Buhari had recommended Justice Onnoghen as the Acting CJN following the retirement of his immediate predecessor, Hon. Justice Mahmoud Muhammad. Th e delay would have triggered an automatic constitutional provision that could block the president from proceeding with the nomination process by February 10. Buhari’s delay in nominating Justice Onnoghen as substantive CJN, despite the NJC recommendation, fuelled allegations of ethnic bias against the president.
Th e delay also led to series of protests in form of press conferences, petitions and carrying of placards by concerned individuals and groups. It would be recalled that a Lagos-based legal practitioner, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, had dragged President Buhari before a Federal High Court, Abuja, over his alleged refusal to appoint Justice Onnoghen as the Chairman of NJC. Th e Attorney-General of the Federation, Federal Judicial Service Commission, Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen, Chairman of NJC and the NJC were joined as co-defendants in the suit.
Justice Onnoghen, who was born on December 22, 1950, at Okurike Town, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River state, would be the fi rst Nigerian from the South-south region of the country to become CJN, if his recommendation is confi rmed. A Fellow of the Chattered Institute of Arbitrators, Justice Onnoghen was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, JSC since 2005.
