Acting CJN vows to support Buhari's anti-graft war

Acting CJN vows to support Buhari's anti-graft war

The inauguration, which took place inside the Council Chambers of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, was sequel to the retirement of Justice Mahmud Mohammed at the attainment of the mandatory 70 years' retirement age.
Onnoghen is expected to act until the president forwards the name of substantive CJN to the Senate and is confirmed.
Shortly after inaugurating Onnoghen, President Buhari told him that he was taking over at a trying time for the country, charging him to play in constitutional role as expected.
The president said he was honoured to bid the immediate past CJN goodbye and to congratulate him for the time he spent "in the highly respected position."
"I congratulate the new acting CJN to come at a time that the institution that he is going to head, to play his role of the constitutional body after the executive and the legislature at this trying time for our nation. Trying time in the sense of the three identifiable problems this country is facing: physical security, the problem of economy and corruption.
"In this room contains the constitutional bodies that are responsible for the bringing Nigeria back to life in terms of security and managing it efficiently while making sure that the economy is resuscitated and that security of doing business at all stages in the country is free and fair," he stated.
The president wished the former CJN the best of luck in his retirement; and the acting CJN, "a successful tour of this vital constitutional body of our country."
In his remarks, Onnoghen described his inauguration as overwhelming and thanked God for making it possible.
He assured President Buhari of "the fullest cooperation of the third arm of government in the continuation of the war against corruption and misconduct in the judiciary."
He said while he intended to carry on from where his predecessors stopped; he would "modify certain areas with the general ultimate aim of having a better judiciary befitting the nation.
Onnoghen thanked the president for the confidence reposed in him, saying "by the grace of God, we shall succeed."