Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday swore in Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, charging him to restore confidence in the judiciary.
Speaking after the inauguration held inside the Council Chambers of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday,Osinbajo noted that Onnoghen was assuming office at a crucial time in the nation’s history.
The acting president, who also decorated Onnoghen with the title of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), said judges must be seen to be just since nobody forced them to be judges.
Osinbajo said: "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".
He stated: "From this day March 7, 2017, Justice Onnoghen becomes the custodian and protector of the highest duties that society owes its people—fairness, justice and truth. The responsibility is an awesome one. 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.
"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 only be seen to be just they must be just indeed.
"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."
The acting president said he, on Monday, discussed with President Muhmmadu Buhari, who is currently on an extended vacation in London, saying the latter extended his personal good wishes and congratulations to the CJN.
"I congratulate you on behalf of Mr. President, all members of your family and the entire judiciary. I believe that the choice that the people of this nation have made is a right choice indeed and I pray that you will live up to all of the expectations indeed. I pray that the almighty God will guide and direct you as you deliver on all of the promises and expectations of the people of this nation," Osinbajo said.
In his remarks, Onnoghen thanked the president and the Senate for finding him worthy, stressing that his confirmation had brought peace as the pressure hitherto mounted had gone down.
"And to Nigerians of all walks of life, of all faiths, who have kept faith with this, who had prayed without ceasing, some had even fasted, I say thank you very much. I urge you to continue to pray for this 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 said.
The CJN, who harped on the independence of the judiciary, identified adherence to the rule of law as the solution to the nation’s problems.
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