Confirm Onnoghen as CJN for peace to reign, Clarke, Dokpesi, others tell Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged by political leaders from the Niger Delta region to, for the interest of peace, confirm Justice Walter Onnoghen as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The leaders made the call on Saturday at a meeting held at the home of former federal commission for information, Edwin Clark in Abuja and attended by a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Victor Attah and the former Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

President Buhari who announced Onnoghen as acting CJN on November 12, 2016, has since then refused to send his name to the Senate for screening and possible confirmation as substantive CJN.

The period under which he can continue in acting capacity as CJN will expire on February 7.

Concerned that he may be the first most senior justice in Nigeria not to be confirmed as CJN, the leaders called on President Buhari not to deviate from the norm that customarily makes the most senior justice at the Supreme Court the CJN.

Read also: Meet Justice Muhammad, who may replace Onnoghen as CJN

The leaders, under the aegis of Pan Niger Delta Forum, also lamented that for the first time, the most senior justice at the apex court was asked to perform in acting capacity in Nigeria.

According to them, if at the end Onnoghen is not confirmed CJN, it would only mean that bad treatment was being extended to the people of Niger Delta by President Buhari’s government.

Clark said, “I want to appeal to the government and President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the appointment of the acting CJN as the substantive CJN in the interest of peace, and as the normal thing being done which is the tradition in the judiciary.”

The plea is coming even as Onnoghen has called on Nigerians not to coarse, cajole or mandate Buhari to appointing him a substantive CJN.

 

 

 

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