Nigeria’s presidency will in the next forty eight hours transmit Walter Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for confirmation as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Aso Rock officials say.This will put to rest the ongoing confusion arising from fears that President Buhari was not ready to confirm him as the head of the judiciary.
Three months after his appointment as the Acting CJN, Nigerians have continued to wait for his confirmation as substantive CJN by the senate even as the Presidency stalled the move, holding back on sending his name to the hallowed chamber.
“All that will be settled before the end of the week, but I can tell you that as at yesterday (Monday) the name had not been sent” the official who did not want to be named said adding that “it may be sent today, but definitely before the deadline”. His tenure as acting CJN
ends on the 10th of February which is Friday.
Following the indefinite extension of Buhari’s medical vacation which was initially scheduled for 10days, there have been concerns and calls for Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to act and send Onnoghen’s name to the senate before time elapses.
Lawyers and activists alike have since condemned the President’s slackness in sending Onnoghen’s name to the senate without any explanation and leaving room for speculation.
Official Spokesman for the Acting President, Laolu Akande in response to enquiries by BusinessDay confirming that the needful will be done soon enough. said “what has to be done will be done”.
Recall that following the retirement of Justice Mahmud Mohammed, upon reaching the age of 70 on November 10, 2016, Walter Onnoghen emerged as the Acting CJN, and almost three months after the constitutional period, he remains unconfirmed by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Onnoghen, a Southerner, has been in acting capacity since November 10, 2016 when he was inaugurated by President Buhari his tenure, ends on the 10th of February. Given the antecedents of the senate in confirmation of appointees there have also been concerns is the February 10th deadline lapses. The Senate is currently in a recess.
Three months after his appointment as the Acting CJN, Nigerians have continued to wait for his confirmation as substantive CJN by the senate even as the Presidency stalled the move, holding back on sending his name to the hallowed chamber.
“All that will be settled before the end of the week, but I can tell you that as at yesterday (Monday) the name had not been sent” the official who did not want to be named said adding that “it may be sent today, but definitely before the deadline”. His tenure as acting CJN
ends on the 10th of February which is Friday.
Following the indefinite extension of Buhari’s medical vacation which was initially scheduled for 10days, there have been concerns and calls for Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to act and send Onnoghen’s name to the senate before time elapses.
Lawyers and activists alike have since condemned the President’s slackness in sending Onnoghen’s name to the senate without any explanation and leaving room for speculation.
Official Spokesman for the Acting President, Laolu Akande in response to enquiries by BusinessDay confirming that the needful will be done soon enough. said “what has to be done will be done”.
Recall that following the retirement of Justice Mahmud Mohammed, upon reaching the age of 70 on November 10, 2016, Walter Onnoghen emerged as the Acting CJN, and almost three months after the constitutional period, he remains unconfirmed by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Onnoghen, a Southerner, has been in acting capacity since November 10, 2016 when he was inaugurated by President Buhari his tenure, ends on the 10th of February. Given the antecedents of the senate in confirmation of appointees there have also been concerns is the February 10th deadline lapses. The Senate is currently in a recess.
The Senate has confirmed that even if Onnoghen’s recommendation is sent before the February 10 deadline for Senate confirmation, in line with Section 231 of the 1999 Constitution, it will have to wait till it comes back from break on February 21before it is read on the floor.
Senate spokesperson Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi revealed Tuesday that no emergency would warrant it to call off its break to convene an emergency session.
“As it is we have suspended plenary to allow the various committees attend to the National budget which is a very important documents that Nigerians are waiting for. There is no emergency for us to say we are suspending our break. When we resume all communications that come in will be taken”, he stated.
Recall that the upper legislative chamber proceeded on break on January 26 to allow for budget defence by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and will resume by February 21.
Some political pundits say the most important thing is to have the letter transmitted to the Senate confirming Onnoghen as substantive CJN, regardless of whether it is read on the floor.
This comes as the National Judicial Council has taken a stand to renominate Onnoghen even if the president fails to nomintate him for confirmation as the first three months provided for by the constitution on acting capacity elapses.
A reliable source explained that even if the expiration of his tenure as acting CJN on February 10, 2017, the constitution still provides for Onnoghen to be reappointed in acting capacity for another three months, but might get nominated again as the substantive CJN.
However, the source informed BusinessDay that, plans are ongoing for the leadership of the National Assembly, NJC and Presidency, to see that, the vacuum being created is duly filled in no time, insisting, that recommendation of Onnoghen as the CJN stands, discarding the
possibility of having another name sent to the Presidency, for onward transmission to the Senate.
Premised on the fact that the Senate has yet to confirm the receipt of any nominations from the Presidency, as recommended to it by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), which had nominated Justices Walter Onnoghen, Tanko Muhammad, and Suleiman Galadima; Justice Onnoghen appears to be favored.
According to media reports, the security report which had earlier indicted Onnoghen of corrupt activities had been cleared by the Presidency, which has gotten him the go ahead for his confirmation at the Senate.
However, the source informed BusinessDay that, plans are ongoing for the leadership of the National Assembly, NJC and Presidency, to see that, the vacuum being created is duly filled in no time, insisting, that recommendation of Onnoghen as the CJN stands, discarding the
possibility of having another name sent to the Presidency, for onward transmission to the Senate.
Premised on the fact that the Senate has yet to confirm the receipt of any nominations from the Presidency, as recommended to it by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), which had nominated Justices Walter Onnoghen, Tanko Muhammad, and Suleiman Galadima; Justice Onnoghen appears to be favored.
According to media reports, the security report which had earlier indicted Onnoghen of corrupt activities had been cleared by the Presidency, which has gotten him the go ahead for his confirmation at the Senate.
