Presidency appoints Onnoghen as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has nominated Walter Onnoghen as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria, ushering in the first southern head of the apex court in about 30 years.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the decision was announced in a tweet from President Muhammadu Buhari’s handle shortly before noon Wednesday. It came a day after Mr. Osinbajo’s office confirmed to the medium that Onnoghen’s name could still be forwarded before the February 10 deadline stipulated by the Constitution.

“Hon. Justice W.S. Onnoghen’s name has been sent to the Senate for confirmation as the next CJN,” the tweet said with an accompanying link to Mr. Onnoghen’s biography on the Supreme Court website.

The announcement came four months after Mr. Onnoghen was first recommended to Mr. Buhari as the next head of the…