Cross River NASS caucus flays FG over refusal to appoint Onnoghen as substantive CJN

The Cross Rivers state National Assembly caucus on Tuesday kicked against the continued refusal of the presidency to forward the name of Justice Samuel Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday on behalf of the 11 member caucus, the leader of the Caucus, Senator John Enohs said that the caucus was worried by the non confirmation of the acting CJN.

According to him, “we are worried by this development for obvious reasons. As a hallowed institution, the judiciary is the bastion of our democracy and should be insulated from undue influence, politics and manipulation of political predators”.

While calling on the President to do the needful, the caucus maintained that, “We therefore call on the President to act in a clear and decisive manner now by transmitting without further delay, the name of Justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation as Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria as recommended by the National Judicial Council”.

“There is a growing sentiment in certain quarters that Justice Onnoghen’s earned elevation to the rank of Chief Justice of Nigeria is held in abeyance precisely because he is either not from a particular ethnic origin preferred by powerful forces or his profound and at times radical judicial pronouncements make him too principled to occupy this exalted office. The president’s inaction un this instance has acted as a cannon fodder for those alluding to a vast conspiracy to deny Justice Onnoghen his earned position” the Caucus declared.

To this end, the caucus said that, “as political leaders, we should collectively resolve to build a just and fair society devoid of ethnic cleavages, a society where hard work and integrity are rewarded and not repudiated. As leaders, we should work towards the inauguration of a just order in which the East meets the North, South and West and together in confidence, united by a common and shared destiny and mutual respect, we confront the future together”.

“We call on the presidency to act in a decisive manner to reassure Nigerians that we are all equal and if we are able to harness our God given talents that we can aspire to the highest position in our nation unencumbered by primordial forces. Justice Walter Onnoghen is eminently qualified to occupy the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria.