The National Judicial Council (NJC) has
written to acting President Yemi Osinbajo asking him to re-appoint the
acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen in an
acting capacity, pending his screening and confirmation by the Senate as
the substantive CJN.
The decision to resend Justice
Onnoghen’s name confirmed THISDAY’s exclusive report yesterday that the
NJC would at its emergency meeting recommend his re-appointment in an
acting capacity, pending his confirmation by the Senate.
Acting President Osinbajo on Tuesday transmitted Justice Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive CJN.
The need for the council’s emergency
meeting yesterday in Abuja at which Justice Onnoghen, who chairs the NJC
presided, had arisen due to the lack of sufficient time for the Senate
to screen and confirm him before his tenure as the acting CJN elapses on
Friday.
An NJC source explained that the
recommendation by the council for his reappointment as acting CJN was
done to prevent a situation where Onnoghen would have to step down by
Friday and create a vacuum.
Onnoghen took over as the acting CJN on November 10, 2016. His tenure in an acting capacity will elapse on Friday.
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