There are fears that there may be vacuüm in the leadership of the Nigerian judiciary in the coming days.
This is because President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to act on the recommendations of the National Judicial Council (NJC) on the appointment of a new Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN).
The tenure of the current CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed expires next week.
Mohammed will retire on November 10 when he will turn 70, the mandatory retirement age for justices of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
By virtue of Section 231 of the 1999 Constitution, it is the prerogative of the President to appoint a CJN.
The NJC during an emergency meeting held on October 11, 2016 had recommended Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen for consideration as the new CJN.
Thisday reports that the President is yet to accept the recommendation of the NJC.
In law, the President is not bound to accept Onnoghen’s nomination.
He, however, cannot bypass the council in making the appointment.
If for any reason, the President does not want to appoint the recommended justice, he is at liberty to ask the NJC to recommend to him another suitable candidate for the office.
It was gathered that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki is yet to receive any letter from the President about the appointment of a new CJN.
