Finally, Onnoghen is now CJN, gets Senate pass mark

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Justice Walter Onnoghen as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

This brings to an end weeks of agitations and speculations over whether or not, a person from the South south geopolitical zone of the country will get to fill the CJN position.

The confirmation of Onnoghen who has been in office in an acting capacity, followed a thorough grilling by Senators.

The confirmation hearing commenced at about 11.45am, when Onnoghen was ushered into the Red Chamber by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang.

Onnoghen was also accompanied to the hearing by the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade and other Justices of the Supreme Court.

Onnoghen who was unanimously confirmed by the Senate, had during the question and answer session, responded to series of questions posed by lawmakers, particularly on issues bordering on the independence of the judiciary.

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu released the first salvo when he queried the time-frame within which election cases are dispensed in the various courts.

He also sought the opinion of Onnoghen on the setting up of special courts to prosecute corruption cases. He finally asked Justice Onnoghen if the judiciary can still discharge its duties despite the intimidation by anti-corruption agencies.

Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan on his part, pleaded that a better working relationship should be established between the judiciary and the legislature in the interest of the nation. He urged the Acting CJN to explain to Nigerians how he intends to rebuild the confidence in the judiciary.

Responding, Onnoghen said he was already working round the clock to ensure that corruption, terrorism and cases related to the economy, were getting the needed attention.

He said: “We are doing everything possible to dispense election matters on time on our side. I have to send circulars to courts to send me the list of pending cases on corruption, terrorism, issues that affect the economy. I wanted to know why the delay.

“I do not see much of the corruption matter, although they are there. We need to have efficient investigators before prosecutors will take up the case. Then we have the judge. If the government wants to establish more courts to handle special cases, the judiciary will not say no.”

Read also: OSINBAJO: Nigerian civil service sick with monumental corruption

He said he is not against the setting up of special courts to handle corruption-related cases, adding that it was the sole prerogative of the Federal Government to do that.

He added: “The decision about the establishment of special courts to try corruption cases, rests with the government. Judiciary is part of the judiciary and we all realize that there is corruption everywhere. I assure you that we have strong-willed judicial officers who have put in all that they have. I believe we will get out of this challenge we are facing.”

He vowed to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, by ensuring that the independence of the third arm of government is maintained.

“I will not compromise on the integrity of the judiciary. The judiciary is the hope of the common man. The judges are being tried. It will sub-judice for me to comment on a case already in court. I do not want to be held in court contempt,” he said.

Senate committee chairman on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator David Umaru, queried the judgment Onnoghen delivered in 2008 in a case between President Muhammadu Buhari and late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Senator Umaru asked if Justice Onnoghen would exhibit the same courage he showed when he delivered a minority judgment in favour of President Buhari in 2008.

Senator Godswill Akpabio who serves as the Senate Minority Leader, questioned Onnoghen on how he intends to ensure that the judiciary is independent and free from interference from other arms of government.

Responding, Onnoghen said as CJN, he will continue to exhibit uncommon courage in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

He said: “The fear of me not exhibiting the uncommon courage I have exhibited is uncalled for. I still have that courage. It has not changed.

“I assure you that the independence of the judiciary will continue. Under my watch, it will be reinforced. If you do not have an independent judiciary, you cannot have a decent society. Justice is blind. It does not look at who is involved.”

Onnoghen also spoke on the issue of conflicting judgments often given by judicial officers. He said: “Conflicting judgments are bound to happen. Through the means of appeal, we can do with the issue of conflicting judgments. I assure you that the judiciary under my watch, will not be pocketed. I do not think that can ever happen.”

Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Na’Allah, on his part asked Onnoghen if he will be ready to give judgments against the executive over some of their reckless decisions.

Senator Olusola Adeyeye, Chief Whip, asked if the judiciary under the watch of the new CJN was ready to modernize in tandem with global best practices.

In his response, Onnoghen noted: “The system operated abroad is not the same we operate in Nigeria. If you have any case against any judicial officer, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has never fallen shy in acting on petitions written.

“The system we operate was borrowed from the United Kingdom (UK). Justices of the Supreme Court do not appoint Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).”

There was a loud silence in the chamber when Onnoghen asked lawmakers if Nigeria was willing to ensure that any judgment passed by the courts, as practiced in other climes, are implemented by the executive, as against the current selective implementation by the Federal Government.

Onnoghen was still responding to Akpabio’s question when he raised the poser. He accused politicians, including Senators of filing frivolous appeals at appellate courts, despite laid down ethics.

“Some of you know that some cases should end at the Court of Appeal,” he started. “Why should you bring the cases to the Supreme Court? What for? You know, but you still go ahead to file such cases. A new law is coming where lawyers will bear the cost of the appeal for refusing to advice their clients properly.”

There was a brief disruption in the chamber after Onnoghen’s remarks. Lawmakers started murmuring until the Senate President, Saraki intervened.

Surprisingly, Saraki told Onnoghen to take a bow and leave the chamber, despite protests from lawmakers who insisted that they wanted to ask more questions.

Their protests were rebuffed by Saraki who went ahead to conclude the confirmation hearing.

In his remarks after the confirmation of Onnoghen, Saraki noted: “I think he (Onnoghen) appreciates more than everybody else the responsibility and the challenges he has ahead in addressing and restoring the integrity and confidence of Nigerian people in the judiciary.

“We hope on behalf of his colleagues that they will continue to ensure that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man and this is an opportunity to continue to close relationship with the three arms of the government.

“We look forward to a productive relationship between the judiciary and the legislative arm of government in the interest of our great nation.”

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now