JUSTICE Walter Onnoghen was on Tuesday sworn in as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) with a call on all concerned to adhere to the rule of law as the only way to enhance democracy in the country.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo performed the ceremony at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja where he also decorated the new CJN with the National Award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
Speaking after taking his oath of office, Onnoghen said: “On my part as the head of the judiciary, I assure you that from the past experience, the key to everything in a democratic setting is adherence to the rule of law.
“There lies the solution to our problems. Let us try to encourage the independence of the judiciary so as to ensure the rule of law.
“If everyone realizes that they are subject to the rule of law and that there are certain things that are tackled according to the rule of law and behave accordingly, it will benefit all of us.”
Justice Onnoghen praised the Senate for clearing him for the post doing a “wonderful job, the stimulating session” at the end, and also thanked Nigerians “who have kept faith with this, we had prayed without ceasing, some had even fasted, I say thank you very much.”
He urged them to continue to pray for the country “because if you notice there has been peace. All those pressure that was mounting everything just died down and that is to the glory of God. I’m eternally grateful to Nigerians.”
He added: “I’m very much grateful to God and Mr President and to the Senate for finding me worthy. I had earlier on November 10, 2016 been sworn in as the acting Chief Justice by the president. Today happens to be the final milestone and I am very much grateful to God, and Mr President for this singular privilege and to the Senate for also screening me and finding me worthy to occupy this office.”
“As I started earlier on the 10th of November, I pledge my loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as I have sworn in the Bible today, I ask for special grace of God to keep to oath of office.
“I solicit the cooperation of everybody, there are three arms of government and these three arms belong to the same government. We should explore areas of cooperation to enable us move the country forward.”
In his remark, Osinbajo stressed the need for the restoration of confidence in the judiciary, noting that he assumed the position at a crucial time in the history of the nation as “it is a time when all arms of government have suffered the loss of confidence of the people of this nation and is so also with the judiciary.”
Osinbajo added: “It is a time when our Lords and Justices of our courts are called upon to resuscitate that confidence that the people of this nation want to have in the institutions of government and indeed in the judiciary.
“I pray that your tenure will revive and sustain that confidence.”
Noting that the swearing in of Onnoghen was an “appointment with history,” the acting President said that with his swearing in, Justice has become “the custodian and protector of the highest duties that society owes its people, fairness, Justice and truth.”
He observed that the responsibility was an awesome one as “it is the closest that man serves as the Almighty God having powers of lives, livelihoods and futures, having power to give and indeed to take away power, and authority to supervise all men and women to whom our law and constitution given the position of judgeship.”
He added: “Since we do not force men and women to be judges, the voluntarily take on the position of high priests in the temple of Justice. They will of course be held to a much higher standard, a much higher moral and ethical standard than the rest of us.
“They must not only be seen to be just, they must be just indeed. The mere perception of judicial malfeasance poisons the waters of Justice let alone the reality while delays in the administration of justice often defeat the ends of Justice.
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