Osinbajo to swear in Onnoghen as 20th CJN Tuesday

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo will swear in Walter Onnoghen as the 20th chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) by 9am on Tuesday.

The ceremony will hold at the council chambers of the presidential villa in Abuja.

An indigene of Cross River state, Onnoghen is the only CJN from the southern part of the county in 30 years‎.

President Muhmmadu Buhari appointed him in acting capacity on November 10, 2016 when Mahmoud Mohammed, his predecessor, retired.

The delay of Buhari in transmitting his name to the senate for confirmation had sparked controversy, with many accusing the president of ethnic bias.

Abubakar Umar, former military governor of Kaduna state, had urged the senate not to confirm any nominee apart from Onnoghen.

However, Buhari instructed Osinbajo to send Onnoghen’s name to the senate – two days to the expiration of his tenure as acting CJN.

But the senate could not consider the request because it was on a three-week recess.

The National Judicial Council (NJC), which had nominated Onnoghen for the position, re-nominated him on February 9 – a day before the expiration of his three-month tenure.

He was confirmed by the senate on Wednesday.

It is not clear if Onnoghen would be decorated with the national honour of the Grand Commander of Order of the Niger (GCON) as customary with the inauguration of CJNs.