The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the appointment of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the 15th Chief Justice of Nigeria designate pending his swearing in, on a date yet to be announced.
Justice Onnoghen’s confirmation was unanimously adopted by the legislators after an intensive one and half hours screening exercise during Wednesday’s plenary.
The Cross River state born lawyer was accompanied by three past Chief Justices of Nigeria, and his state Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, who himself is a former Senator. They were all led into the red chamber by the SSA to the President on NASS matters, Senator Ita Enang.
President of the Senate Dr. Bukola Saraki who presided over the session, advised the new CJN designate to use his good office to strengthen the believe of Nigerians that the Judiciary is the last hope of the common man.
“We hope, on behalf of his colleagues, that they would continue to ensure that the Judiciary is the last hope of the common man,” Senator Saraki advised.
The new CJN designate was tested on various judicial issues, including the suitability of creating a separate special court to handle election cases, and his response was simply that, all the 3 parties- investigator, prosecutor, and the Judge must do the right thing at all times, to achieve the desired result of ensuring justice.
“Already, as I came on board for instance I have tried to really understand. I have passed different circulars to all the heads of the Nigerian judiciary in the country to send me details of pending matters on corruption, matters on terrorism, and high profile criminal matters in terms of banking.
“The problems that need to be addressed separate from election matters are corruption matters. I don’t see some of the corruption matters as such, but they are there and from the explanation they have given from the data base, I believe it takes time to have an effective and efficient adjudication.
“In criminal prosecution for instance you need to have an effective and efficient investigator who will investigate first before charging to court based on his evidence, a lead prosecutor who will go through this when the investigator brings this report to him to go through, and decide whether it has any weight. You have the judge who is the final piece of the puzzle. If matters that get to court that are properly ready for trial, actually you will normally see them moving from day to day and expeditiously”.
The veteran Jurist joined the exclusive group of Justices who had the opportunity of leading the Nigerian Judiciary which had its first indigenous Chief Justice in 1958 in person of Hon. Justice Adetokunbo Ademola.
