President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen who takes over from the outgone CJN who retired Thursday having attained the retirement age of 70.
His appointment is in line with the section of the 1999 constitution which allows the most appointment of the most senior justice of the Supreme Court to serve until confirmed by the National Assembly.
Speaking shortly before swearing in the acting CJN the President congratulated him noting that he would be heading one of the institutions responsible for bringing the country back in line.
“I congratulate the new acting CJN who comes at a time that the institution that he is going to head plays the role one of the constitutional bodies at this trying time for our nation.
“Trying time in the sense of the three identifiable problems this country is facing. Physical security, the problem of economy and corruption.
” In this room contains the constitutional bodies that are responsible for the bringing Nigeria back into line in terms of security and managing it efficiently by making sure that the economy is resuscitated and that security of doing business at all stages in the country is free and fair” the President said.
He congratulated the outgone CJN and wished him luck in his retirement.
In his speech Onnoghen, 66, who hails from Cross River state assured the President of the full cooperation of the judiciary in the fight against corruption and his bid to cleanse the Nigerian judicial system.
The Acting CJN promised to continue from where his predecessors stopped adding that he will however modify certain areas of operation to make the judiciary system better.
“At this state in our development and your Programme in tow I assure you of the fullest cooperation of the third arm of government in the continuation of the war against corruption and misconduct in the judiciary.
“Where my predecessors stopped I intend to carry on from there, but modify certain areasi with the general ultimate gain of having a better judiciary befitting the nation Nigeria.
Thank You for the confidence reposed on me and by the grace of God we shall succeed” he said.
