The Senate will commence screening of Walter Onnoghen as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) tomorrow, Wednesday. February 1, 2017.The screening which will commence by 11am, will be conducted at the Committee of the Whole.
Senate President Bukola Saraki made the announcement at resumption of plenary Tuesday.
Onnoghen has been in acting capacity since November 10, 2016.
If confirmed, Onnoghen, who hails from Cross River State, will be the first Southern jurist to qualify for CJN position in about 30 years.
Although the National Judicial Council (NJC) had recommended Onnoghen, the most senior jurist at the apex court, as CJN, President Buhari had on November 10, 2016, okayed him to head the judiciary in acting position and refused to send his name to the upper legislative chamber for confirmation in substantive capacity.
However, condemnations trailed the President’s decision not to forward his name to the Senate for confirmation, in line with Section 231 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
On February 7, 2017 – three days to the expiration of Onnoghen’s tenure as acting CJN – Acting President Yemi Osinbajo forwarded his name to the upper legislative chamber for confirmation.
