With less than two weeks(11 days) to the end of the tenure of the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen, and with no indication from President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate to screen and confirm him as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, there is palpable anxiety and confusion in the Judiciary. Sources claim that the Acting CJN might be shown the way out since the Federal Government has not submitted his name to the National Assembly for confirmation. Moreso, no one has been nominated to replace him. In October 2016, the National Judicial Council, NJC, nominated Onnoghen, who is the most senior member of Supreme Court bench to head the nation’s judiciary.
Onnoghen has been in an acting capacity since November 10, 2016, a day after Mahmud Mohammed, former CJN, retired. Onnoghen’s three-month term as acting CJN will elapse on February 10, and it is expected that his appointment would be confirmed before the time if he is to remain in the position. As at press time, there was no indication of any request from the President to the Senate to screen Onnoghen. If his appointment is confirmed, Onnoghen, who is from Cross River state, will be the first substantive CJN from the south since 1987.
