BEVERLY HILLS, January 31, (THEWILL) – The Cross River State National Assembly Caucus on Tuesday requested President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently transmit the name of Justice Walter Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.
This is happening about 10 days to the expiration of the three months timeline within which the name of the Cross River-born Acting CJN should be forwarded to the upper legislative chamber for confirmation.
Senators and Reps members from Cross River stated that the continuous delay of President Buhari to forward Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for screening and subsequent confirmation without any lawful and constitutional cause has brought the issue of the independence of the judiciary and security of tenure of judges to doubt and public discourse.
Addressing newsmen on behalf of the eleven members of the caucus, Senator John Enoh (PDP, Cross River Central) explained that the appointment of Onnoghen as the CJN has become imperative against the backdrop that succession to the position has been based on merit and seniority.
He added that the established order and convention have imbued the judiciary with a measure of stability and positioned it to play the critical role of dispensing justice immune to it undue influence of powerful vested interests.
About the Author
