CJN: Hope rises for Onnoghen, to face Senate Wednesday

The Senate has fixed the confirmation hearing of Justice Walter Onnoghen as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) for tomorrow (Wednesday)

The move comes one week after the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki acknowledged a letter from the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, which nominated Onnoghen as CJN.

Making the announcement, Saraki urged his colleagues to attend the confirmation hearing and also pleaded with them to be punctual.

He said the confirmation hearing will commence at about 11am and may disrupt other legislative businesses slated for today.

Saraki announced in his brief remarks that: “The confirmation hearing of Justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen, will take place on Wednesday, 1st of March, 2017 at 11am in plenary. Kindly endeavour to be punctual please.”

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According to Senate procedure, the lawmakers can refer the nomination of anybody to its relevant committees and in this case, the committee on Judiciary for screening and await its report before going ahead with the confirmation during plenary.

It can also decide to subject the screening and confirmation to the committee of the whole during plenary. The Senate has however opted to adopt the latter and confirm Onnoghen in the committee of the whole.

Saraki, had on the 21st of February, 2017, read a letter from Acting President, Professor Osinbajo, seeking the confirmation of Justice Walter Onnoghen as CJN.

Recall that the nomination of Onnoghen had caused controversy, as many feared that the delay in sending his name to the senate by the Exicutive may have been a ploy to let his period as acting CJN run out, and by extension, his tenure.

Acting President Osinbajo had however forwarded his name to the Senate, narrowly beating the deadline, soon after President Muhammadu Buhari left Nigeria for his medical vacation in London.

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