The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has sent the name of the Acting Chief
Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to the National Assembly for
confirmation as the substantive CJN.
The presidency made the nomination known via its Twitter handle
@NGRPresident on Wednesday.
Buhari had, on November 10, 2016, inaugurated Onnoghen as acting CJN
following the retirement of Justice Mahmud Mohammed at the attainment of
the mandatory 70-year retirement age.
The National Judicial Council had earlier forwarded Onnoghen’s name to the
President to be named the new CJN based on the recommendation of the
Federal Judicial Service Commission.
Onnoghen was born on the 22nd December, 1950 at Okurike Town, Biase L.G.A.
of Cross Rivers State.
He attended the Presbyterian Primary School, Okurike Town between 1959 and
1965.
He later proceeded to Accra, Ghana to attend Odorgorno Secondary School,
Adabraka, Accra, Ghana between 1967 and 1972 for his West African
Examination Council (WAEC) Exams.
He was at Accra Academy, Accra Ghana between 1972 and 1974 for his WAEC
(A-Levels) before proceeding to the University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
between 1974 and 1977 to obtain his Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B (Hons))
and graduated with 2nd Class Upper Division.
He attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos between 1977
and 1978 for his B.L certificate.
Her previous professional appointments/positions held include:
Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Ikeja, Lagos, Ogun State (1978 –
1979)
Partner in the Law Firm of Effiom Ekong & Company, Calabar (1979 – 1988)
Principal Partner/Head of Chamber of Walter Onneghen & Associates, Calabar
(1988 -1989)
High Court Judge, Cross Rivers State Judiciary (1989 – 1998)
Chairman, Cross Rivers State Armed Robbery and Fire Arms Tribunal (1990 –
1993)
Chairman, Judicial Enquiry into the Crisis between Student of the
University of Calabar and Obufa Esuk Orok Community, Calabar (1996)
Chairman, Failed Bank Tribunal, Ibadan Zone (1998)
Judge, High Court of Rivers State (1992 – 2004)
Justice of the Court of Appeal (1998 – 2005)
A Fellow, Chaterred Institute of Arbitrators, Hon. Justice W.S. Nkanu
Onnoghen has attended several conferences and seminars around the world.
He is a member of the Body of Bencher and Life Bencher.
Hon. Justice W.S. Nkanu Onnoghen was appointed a Justice of the Supreme
Court of Nigeria (JSC) since 2005.