The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) following his successful screening at its chambers on Wednesday, March 1st, 2017.
During the hearing, Justice Onnoghen delivered a concise presentation detailing his educational background and past work experiences after which the Senate posed questions bordering on judicial reforms, the independence of the judiciary, the disobedience of court orders by citizens and corruption in the judiciary.
Responding to the questions put before him, Justice Onnoghen explicitly stated that the independence of the judiciary would not be compromised under his leadership. While acknowledging the existence of corruption in the Judiciary, he assured Senate of the strong will and unquestionable integrity of majority of the judicial officers. He also cautioned Nigerians to desist from politicizing the affairs of the judiciary.
Following the hearing, which had other Supreme Court Justices and the Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Ben Ayade in attendance, the Senate unanimously adopted his confirmation. Following that, the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki (APC: Kwara) directed that copies of the Senate resolution be forwarded to the Presidency for record purposes.
It would be recalled that Acting President Yemi Osibanjo in his letter dated February 7th, 2017, had requested that the Senate confirm the nomination of Justice Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria in line with section 231 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Justice Onnoghen who is the first CJN from the Southern part of Nigeria in 30 years has been in acting capacity since the compulsory retirement of Justice Mahmud Mohammed who attained 70 in November last year.
