Unic Press UK: The National Judicial Council (NJC) on Wednesday, the 8th February 2017, formally requested for an extension of the tenure of the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen, after an emergency meeting.
Our team gathered that the request by the NJC was predicated on the texts on Section 231 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended, particularly, Section 231 (5).
Section 231 (5): “Except on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, an appointment pursuant to the provisions of subsection (4) of this section shall cease to have effect after the expiration of three months from the date of such appointment, and the President shall not re-appoint a person whose appointment has lapsed.”
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.”
Walter Onnoghen was appointed to be the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria on the 10th November 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari. The initial tenure of Onnoghen will lapse on 10th February 2017.
It is expected that Onnoghen would remain in office in the light of the fact that the NJC requested for tenor extension.
