Politics
NJC writes Osinbajo to extend Onnoghen’s acting tenure by 3 months
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has extended by three months the acting tenure of Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and has officially written the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) for approval.
The council arrived at this decision at the end of an emergency meeting it held in Abuja on Wednesday, where it re-nominated Justice Onnoghen for appointment as CJN.
This is coming just as it was reported that Osibanjo, has forwarded Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for confirmation.
However, NJC had taken precautions to ensure it was not caught unawares in the event it was impossible for the Senate, which is currently on recess, to reconvene and screen Onnoghen before Friday when his constitutional three months tenure as Acting CJN will expire.
Read also: CJN: Senate may call for emergency session, as Osinbajo sends in Onnoghen’s name
Based on section 231(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, NJC, wrote the Acting President to extend Onnoghen’s acting tenure for another three months.
By the dictates of section 231(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the appointment of Onnoghen as CJN in acting capacity by President Buhari shall cease to have effect after the expiration of three months from the date of such appointment. It further states that the President shall not re-appoint a person whose appointment has elapsed.
Onnoghen, who was made the acting CJN on November 10, 2016, will be the first Southern jurist to qualify for the CJN position in about 30 years.
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