Senate, NJC told to resist Buhari’s plan to substitute Onnoghen as CJN

A former military governor of Kaduna State, Col Abubakar Umar (rtd), has called on the Senate and the Natioanl Judicial Council (NJC) to resist any attempt to foist another candidate other than the name of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

In a statement, Umar said the attempt to deny Onnoghen the position of CJN was a ploy by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to subvert laid down constitutional procedures.

The retired Colonel disclosed that “Already, many analysts view this action as a ploy to deny a Southerner his right to succession based on his seniority in keeping with the appointment protocol observed by the NJC in making the appointment”.

“In the event of this occurrence, the NJC must not forward any other name neither should the Senate confirm any other nominee,” Umar urged.

He said the NJC action will “serve to check the excesses of this administration and reinforce the unity of the nation which has already been pushed to the precipice by the recruitment and appointment policies  of a government  which  tends to favour the north in violation  of the Federal Character provision of the Constitution”

The retired Army officer lamented that the action of the government refusing to provide any cogent and plausible or believable reason for its failure to forward the name of Justice Unnoghen to the Senate for confirmation, “leaves Nigerians guessing and speculating about the reasons”.

“In a few days, the tenure of acting appointment of Justice Onnoghen will expire. Going by our extant Constitution, the Acting CJN will be disqualified from appointment  as the substantive CJN unless the NJC resubmits his  nomination to the President”.

He therefore called for speedy consideration of Onnoghen as the substantive CJN.

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