The
National Judicial Council, NJC, at the end of an emergency meeting it held in
Abuja on Wednesday, re-nominated Justice Walter Onnoghen for appointment as the
Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.
NJC
forwarded its resolution at the meeting to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi
Osibanjo, SAN, barely 24 hours after Onnoghen’s name was reportedly transmitted
to the Senate for confirmation by the Presidency.
The
Council took the action in view of the fact that it may be impossible for the
Senate which is currently on recess, to reconvene and screen Onnoghen before
Friday when his constitutional three months tenure as Acting CJN would expire.
Consequently,
in line with section 231(5) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, NJC, urged
the Acting President to extend Onnoghen’s acting tenure for another three
months.
Though
Onnoghen is statutorily the Chairman of the NJC, a source at the meeting which
was held in camera, said that the extension letter sent to the
Presidency was signed by Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.
Justice
Muhammad is the second highest ranking jurist at the Supreme Court.
Insinuations
were rife that he was President Muhammadu Buhari’s first choice for the CJN
position.
However,
the source who pleaded anonymity because he was not permitted to speak on
behalf of the NJC, said Justice Muhammadu was favourably disposed to Onnoghen
who is currently the most senior Justice of the apex court, clinching the
judiciary top-job.
“All
the NJC members that attended the meeting were unanimous in the decision to
re-nominate Justice Onnoghen. We have already forwarded the letter to the
Presidency”, the source added.
According
to section 231(5) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, “Except on the
recommendation of the NJC”, Onnoghen’s appointment by President Buhari “shall
cease to have effect after the expiration of three months from the date of such
appointment, and the President shall not re-appoint a person whose appointment
has elapsed”.
Onnoghen
who is from Cross River State is the first Southern jurist to qualify for the
CJN position in about 30 years.
President
Buhari had on November 10, 2016, okayed him to head the judiciary in acting
capacity.
The
appointment which was based on recommendation letter from the NJC, followed
retirement of former CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who bowed out upon clocking
the 70 years mandatory retirement age.
Onnoghen
will clock 70 on December 20, 2020. He was elevated into the apex court bench in
2005.
Tags
Politics