AFTER months of acting as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen was, on Wednesday, confirmed as the substantive CJN by the Senate, breaking what many Nigerians term as a jinx on southerners.
His appointment came exactly 30 years after the last CJN of southern extract, Justice Ayo Gabriel Irikefe, who held the office from 1985 to 1987.
Before Justice Irikefe attained the post, there had been five other southern CJNs; Justice Adetokunbo Ademola (1958-1972), Justice Teslim Olawale Elias (1972-1975), Justice Darnley Arthur Alexander (1975-1979), Justice Atanda Fatayi Williams (1979-1983) and Justice George Sodeinde Sowemimo (1983-1985).
Between Justice Irikefe and Onnoghen, there were eight northern CJNs within a 30-year-period. They are Justices Mohammed Bello (1987-1995), Muhammad Lawal Uwais (1995-2006), Saliu Moddibo Alfa Belgore (2006-2007), Idris Legbo Kutigi (2007-2009), Aloysius Katsina-Alu (2009-2011), Dahiru Musdapher (2011-2012), Aloma Mariam Mukhtar (2012-2014) and Mahmud Mohammed (2014-2016).
Onnoghen was, on February 7, nominated to the Senate for confirmation at the tail end of his three-month acting tenure.
Though the National Judicial Council (NJC) re-nominated him for another acting period, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo doused the tension when he forwarded Onnoghen’s name to the Senate.
Speaking during his screening, Onnoghen told lawmakers at the red chamber that the judiciary, under his watch, would maintain unquestionable integrity.
He also said he was not opposed to the setting up of more courts to try corruption cases, adding that the issue of delay in trial of cases arose because those prosecuting corruption cases often approached the court with little or no evidence.
“The judiciary is full of officers of unquestionable integrity who are eager to do their best for the sector,” he said, while assuring Nigerians that the justice system would surely emerge stronger under him.
Justice Onnoghen told the senators that he had already written a letter to the courts to demand a date of all the pending corruption cases, terrorism and election cases, adding that he had also asked the courts to furnish him with reasons they remained pending.
He said the information would help his administration with the needed information on how best to enhance quick dispensation of the cases.
On conflicting judgments emanating from courts of coordinate jurisdiction, he said such controversies were normal in legal system as, according to him, the process of filing the cases by lawyers might be different at some points.
He also asked the executive and the legislature to address cases whereby elected political officers would disobey court orders, adding that only the two arms of government could address the issue.
“The issue of addressing disobedience to court order is the role of the executive and the legislature. Also, the issue of judicial precedence is sacrosanct, because if the judiciary and lawyer do away with precedence, the judiciary collapses.
“This is the only way that rule can be set for next generation. Some politicians are not fair to the Supreme Court because, even when they know that a case should stop at the Appeal Court, yet they find a way to bring it to the Supreme Court and that is why they must fund the administration,” he added.
Justice Onnoghen assured Nigerians that the judiciary would come out of its present predicament and image crisis stronger, refomed and more vibrant.
According to him, “the judiciary is a product of the Nigerian society,” adding that whatever affected the society would also be reflected in the judiciary.
“The judiciary is part of the society. There is corruption everywhere but efforts are being made to check it in accordance with our rules. The judiciary under my watch will be strong-willed and of unquestionable integrity. I believe that the judiciary will come out of the present situation stronger,” he stressed.
In his remarks after Onnoghen’s confirmation, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, congratulated the CJN, adding that his screening marked another milestone in the Nigeria’s judicial system and democratic process.
He said the CJN, from the questions asked by the senators, clearly understood the expectations of Nigerians on the reforms necessary to inspire the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
and then