SAN FRANCISCO, February 21, (THEWILL) – The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has read the letter from the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, requesting the confirmation of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.
The letter was read on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday upon resumption of plenary after a four-week suspension of plenary for deliberation on the 2017 budget.
Recall that the Senate had on February 19, adjourned plenary to enable standing committees take the budget defence of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government.
Saraki, stated that the letter, dated February 7, urged the Senate to confirm 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.
Onnoghen has been acting CJN since November 10, 2016 when his predecessor, Mahmud Mohammed, retired.
The delay of President Muhammadu Buhari in sending his name for confirmation as CJN had sparked controversy. His tenure as acting CJN was due to elapse on February 10, but it was only two days before the time that the Presidency communicated to the upper legislative chamber on his confirmation.
Onnoghen, who is from Cross River state, is to be the CJN to be coming from the southern part of the country in 30 years. The National Judicial Council, NJC, however re-nominated him on February 9, a day before the expiration of his three-month tenure.
During Tuesday’s sitting, Saraki also read another letter from Osinbajo, requesting the confirmation of Mr Adeyinka Asekan, from Ogun as an additional non-career ambassador designate.
