Col Umar To Senate: Resist Buhari’s Ploy To Deny Southerner Position Of CJN

Former Military Governor of Kaduna state, Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd) has enjoined the Senate not to confirm any other nominee that may be forwarded by the Presidency as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.

Justice Walter Onnoghen was appointed acting CJN in November 2016.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari, despite criticisms from prominent Nigerians has refused to send his name to the Senate for confirmation.

In a statement on Thursday, Col Umar said the delay by President Buhari in sending the name of Justice  Onnoghen to Senate for confirmation is a deliberate ploy to deny a Southerner his rightful succession to the position of CJN based on seniority.

The former Governor also called on the National Judicial Council, NJC, not to forward any other name to the President.

The statement personally signed by Col Umar reads:

“In a few days, the tenure of Acting appointment of Justice Onnoghen will expire. Going by our extant Constitution, the Acting CJN  will be disqualified from appointment as the substantive CJN unless the NJC resubmits his  nomination to the President.

“Without  providing any cogent and plausible or believable reason  for its  failure  to forward  the name of Justice Onnoghen  to the Senate for confirmation, the Presidency leaves Nigerians guessing and speculating about the reasons.

“Already, many analysts view this action as a ploy to deny  a Southerner his right to succession  based on  his seniority in keeping with  the appointment protocol observed by the  NJC in making  the appointment.

“In the event of this occurrence, the NJC  must not  forward any other name  nor should the Senate confirm any other nominee.

“This will  serve to check  the excesses of this administration and reinforce the unity of the nation which has already been pushed  to the precipice by the recruitment  and appointment policies  of a government  which tend to   favour the north in violation  of the Federal Character provision of the Constitution.”