Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday swore in Walter Onnoghen as the 17th Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), charging him to restore the confidence of Nigerians in third arm of government.
The swearing in ceremony was conducted inside the council chambers of the Aso Rock presidential villa , Abuja, where the CJN was conferred with the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
Onnoghen was first appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as acting CJN on November 10, 2016 after the retirement of his immediate predecessor Mahmoud Mohammed. After acting for three months Osinbajo sent his name to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation as substantive CJN on February 8. He was finally screened by the Senate and confirmed as substantive CJN on March 1, 2017.
In his speech while swearing in the CJN Osinbajo said said his appointment was coming at a time when Nigerians had lost confidence in not just the judiciary but the other arms of government. He therefore charged him to work at restoring the and sustaining the people’s confidence.
“From this day March 7th, 2017, Justice Onnoghen becomes the custodian and protector of the highest duties that society owes its people, fairness, Justice and truth.
“The mere perception of judicial malfeasance poisons the waters of Justice let alone the reality. While delays in the administration of justice often defeats the ends of Justice.
“My Lord, you assume this position at a crucial time in the history of our nation, it is a time when all arms of government have suffered the loss confidence of the people of this nation and is so also with the judiciary. 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” Osinbajo said.
He used the opportunity to also charge judicial officers to keep the high moral and ethical standards required of them since their responsibility could almost be equated with that of 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 in line with the constitution.
“Since we do not force men and women to be judges, they 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 acting president said.
Responding the CJN thanked the president and the senate for the opportunity to serve. He noted that there was a need to explore different areas of cooperation between the three arms of government “to enable us move the country forward”.
Onnoghen who also stated that adherence to the rule of law was the solution to most of Nigeria’s problems, urged the other arms of government to encourage the independence of the judiciary so as to encourage the rule of law.
“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 realise that they are subject to the rule of law and that there are certain things that are tackles according to the rule of law and behave accordingly, it will benefit all of us” he said.
