ONNOGHEN Vs SENATE CONFIRMATION: Osibanjo should do the needful —Princewill Odidi

Efio-Ita Nyok|30 January 2017

Cross River-born development economist, social entrepreneur, World Bank consultant and social commentator, Mr Princewill Odidi, has charged the Acting Executive President of Nigeria, His Excellency Mr Yemi Osinbajo, to do the needful by forwarding the name of Mr Walter Nkanu Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive Chief Justice of the Federation NegroidHaven can say.

The Atlanta-based social commentator bore his mind yesterday 29 January via his social media account, Facebook. In his argument, Mr Odidi asserted that the Vice President of Nigeria now Acting President, Prof Osibanjo has the constitutional powers to send the name of Justice Onnoghen the Chief Justice of Nigeria in acting capacity to the National Assembly for confirmation. Odidi stressed that Osibanjo does not need any permission to perform this function being the incumbent President of Nigeria in acting capacity.

In his exact words, ‘As acting President, His Excellency Osinbajo has the executive power to forward Justice Walter Onnoghen’s name to Senate for confirmation. He does not need permission from anyone in an acting President capacity. We are left with less than 10 working days. Let him do the needful’

Recall that since October 2016, the National Judicial Council (NJC) nominated Onnoghen, who is the most senior member of the supreme court bench, to head the Nigeria’s judiciary.

President Buhari who is now in London for a vacation swore in Onnoghen Chief Justice of Nigeria in an acting capacity since November 10, 2016 – a day after Mahmud Mohammed, former CJN, retired.

Onnoghen’s 90 days term as acting CJN will elapse on February 10, and it is expected that his appointment should be confirmed before the time if he is to remain in the position.

Sources has it that, the presidency had not yet written to the upper legislative chamber on the confirmation of the appointment of Onnoghen.

If his appointment is confirmed, Onnoghen, who is from Cross River state, will be the first substantive CJN from the south since 1987.

Will Osibanjo demonstrate that he is really the acting President? Will he call the bluff by forwarding Onnoghen’s name to the red chamber?

Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven.org