Presidency Moves To Confirm Onnoghen As CJN

From all indications, it appears that President Muhammadu Buhari has now resolved to appoint Justice Walter Onnoghen as the substantive chief justice of Nigeria.

Since Justice Onnoghen was sworn in by President Buhari as the acting chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) on November 12, 2016, there has been concern over whether Onnoghen would become substantive CJN since the president was yet to forward his name to the Senate barely a week to the end of the three months that he can hold the post on acting capacity. The period expires on February 7, 2017.

However, an impeccable source close to the presidency, who asked not to be named, told LEADERSHIP that the presidency and the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice had a meeting with Justice Onnoghen at 2am last night.

“They presented to Onnoghen the dossier the security agencies have on him to go through, showing why they delayed to confirm him. He would have to guard against some of these things when he takes full charge of the judiciary,” the source said.

With this development, acting President Yemi Osibanjo will forward a letter on behalf of President Buhari to the Senate for Justice Onnoghen’s confirmation any moment from now.

Leadership, February 3, 2017

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