Barring any last minute change, with the expiration of the tenure of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), BusinessDay can authoritatively report that, Onnoghen remains the most favored for the revered post of the CJN.
While Nigerians await the confirmation of a substantive CJN by the Nigerian Senate, the Presidency, three months after his appointment as the Acting CJN, has failed to send his nomination to the Senate.
However, with the Senate on cess, there had been indications that Onnoghen, a southerner, had been reported not to be favoured by the Presidency.
In a chat with BusinessDay, on the possible position of the National Judicial Council (NJC), which is headed by the CJN, if Onnoghen does not get confirmed after the expiration of the first three months provided for by the constitution, a very reliable source said that, the position of the NJC still subsists.
Even with the expiration of the his tenure as acting CJN on February 10, 2017, the constitution still provides for Onnoghen to be reappointed in acting capacity for another three months, but might get nominated again as the substantive CJN.
However, the source informed our reporter that, plans are ongoing for the leadership of the National Assembly, NJC and Presidency, to see that, the vacuum being created is duly filled in no time, insisting, that recommendation of Onnoghen as the CJN stands, discarding the possibility of having another name sent to the Presidency, for onward transmission to the Senate.
It will be recalled that following the retirement of Justice Mahmud Mohammed, upon reaching the age of 70 on November 10, 2016, Walter Onnoghen emerged as the Acting CJN, and almost three months after the constitutional period, he remains unconfirmed by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Premised on the fact that the Senate has yet to confirm the receipt of any nominations from the Presidency, as recommended to it by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), which had nominated Justices Walter Onnoghen, Tanko Muhammad, and Suleiman Galadima; Justice Onnoghen appears to be favored.
There are however, unconfirmed reports that, his nomination may either be sent by President Muhammadu Buhari or Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is presently in an acting capacity, depending on when the President’s vacation ends.
According to media reports, the security report which had earlier indicted Onnoghen of corrupt activities, had been cleared by the Presidency, which has gotten him the go ahead for his confirmation at the Senate.
