Unic Press UK: Judge W.S. Nkanu Onnoghen CFR is now the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) following the retirement of Judge Mahmud Mohammed, who has reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
Judge W.S. Nkanu Onnoghen CFR status as acting CJN took effect today, and he is expected to hold this position until a substantive CJN is appointed, confirmed by the Nigeria Senate.
W S Nkanu Onnoghen CFR
Onnoghen was inaugurated on Thursday, the 10th November 2016, by President Buhari in line with the Section 231 (1) and Section 231 (4) of the Nigeria Constitution, which reads:
Section 231 (1): “The appointment of a person to the office of Chief Justice of Nigeria shall be made by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council subject to confirmation of such appointment by the Senate.”
Section 231 (4): “If the office of Chief Justice of Nigeria is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, then until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office, or until the person holding has resumed those functions, the President shall appoint the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court to perform those functions.”
