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Tag: Walter Onnoghen

  • Olubadan: Judge transfers Ladoja’s case to CJ

    Olubadan: Judge transfers Ladoja’s case to CJ

    There is a twist to the case by former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja against review of the Olubadan 1959 Chieftaincy Declaration.

    Justice M. I. Sule of Oyo State High Court has transferred the matter to the Chief Judge, Justice M. Abimbola.

    In a ruling at the resumed hearing yesterday, the judge said she would not want to start a case she won’t finish before the court’s vacation on September 12.

    Justice Sule said she had two rulings pending before her, which she must dispense with before the vacation.

    According to her, the chief judge will know what to do with the matter.

    Justice Sule is the second judge to handle the matter earlier assigned to Justice Diran Akintola, who allegedly refused to hear an ex parte application meant to stop the panel from sitting.

    This prompted Ladoja to petition the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen.

    Following the CJN’s intervention, the case was re-assigned to Justice Sule before who parties appeared on August 21 to hear a contempt charge against Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Justice Akintunde Boade, who chaired the panel.

    Ladoja’s lead counsel Michael Lana yesterday accused the Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Oluwaseun Abimbola, of refusing to file the processes timeously to aid conclusion of the process of installing the obas on time.

    Lana reminded the court the defendant had issues with the letters of appointment to the 21 obas and “purportedly held a coronation ceremony, which was heavily advertised and shown live on television”.

    The lawyer said all actions the governor had taken on the matter constituted contempt, which the court condemned in several instances.

    He submitted that such must not be allowed to go unpunished.

    Lana requested the judge to stand down the matter for 30 minutes to enable him to file a response to the preliminary objection filed and served yesterday by the attorney-general.

    But Abimbola shrugged off the allegation of delaying the process.

    The lawyer argued there is an amendment to the reliefs sought by the claimant.

    He said this structurally affected the originating summons, which informed the delay in filing some processes.

    Abimbola said the contempt application filed by Ladoja’s lawyer was based on sentiment, adding that the claimant’s lawyer should not give the impression the State High Court was winding down because of vacation.

  • Why public confidence in Judiciary is low, by Saraki, CJN, others

    Why public confidence in Judiciary is low, by Saraki, CJN, others

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) and Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF), Taiwo Abidogun,  on Thursday lamented the inability of the nation’s court system to ensure prompt justice delivery.

    They urged that efforts should be directed at ensuring that the judicial system functions for the benefit of all.

    Saraki, Onnoghen, Malami and Abidogun spoke at the National Summit on Justice in Abuja.

    Saraki, who was represented by Senator David Umoru, said Nigerians were in agreement that the justice administration system urgently requires serious reforms to enable it cope with current day challenges.

    He said: “Criminals have become smarter with technology. There is an upsurge in terrorism and crimes, hitherto unimagined like the senseless and brutal kidnapping of Nigerians. This was a crime never envisaged in the past.

    “It is my clear belief that in order to restore confidence amongst Nigerians in our justice system, judicial reforms need to be institutionalised. It must be constantly reviewed to reflect the constant dynamics of the society.

    “It should not be treated like a one off project or a talk show, but a workable template must be adhered to.

    “The success of an effective judicial system is measured not only by the number of cases that it manages to dispose of, but also, and more importantly, by the amount of litigation which is avoided because the rights and obligations of parties are ascertainable in advance.

    “Ensuring effective access to justice is one of the most important issues facing our justice system today.”

    Onnoghen, who was also represented by Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court, said the perennial delay in the judicial process could be effectively eliminated where rules of procedure in courts are well streamlined.

    He noted that although it may be difficult to achieve uniformity of court procedure nationwide because of existing differences in religion, culture and legal procedures, efforts should be directed at ensuring a system that guarantees fair play and equity.

    He said: “The common man should see the justice system as impartial. There should be improved justice dispensation, elimination of delays and reduction in cost of litigation.

    “It is hoped that the policy will achieve this goal of building consensus among justice sector institutions and practitioners for the purpose of addressing collectively, the major challenges facing the justice delivery system in the country.”

  • List of 19 Judges approved by Osinbajo

    List of 19 Judges approved by Osinbajo

    The Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday approved the appointment of 19 judges for the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Soji Oye, spokesman of the National Judicial Council (NJC).said Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), would swear them in on Friday.

    According to Oye, Walter Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), would swear them in on Friday.

    Judges
    Judges pose for photograph

    “They will be sworn in by the honourable, the chief justice of Nigeria and chairman, national judicial council, Hon. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON, on Friday, 14th July, 2017, by 3:00pm at the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” the statement read.

    THE JUDGES:

    • Targema John Iorngee (Benue)
    • Namtari Mahmood Abba (Adamawa)
    • Nweneka Gerald Ikechi (Rivers)
    • Kado Sanusi (Katsina)
    • Adeniyi Sinmisola Oluyinka (Ogun)
    • Abiola Adunola Adewemimo (Osun)
    • Opeloye Ogunbowale A (Lagos)
    • Essien Isaac Jeremiah (Akwa-Ibom)
    • Elizabeth Ama Oji (Ebonyi)
    • Arowosegbe Olukayode Ojo (Ondo)
    • Ogbuanya Nelson S. Chukwudi (Enugu)
    • Bashir Zaynab Mohammed (Niger)
    • Galadima Ibrahim Suleiman (Nasarawa)
    • Bassi Paul Ahmed (Borno)
    • Danjidda Salisu Hamisu (Kano)
    • Hamman Idi Polycarp (Taraba)
    • Damulak Kiyersohot Dashe (Plateau)
    • Alkali Bashar Attahiru (Sokoto)
    • Mustapha Tijjani (Jigawa)

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  • NJC recalls suspended justice

    NJC recalls suspended justice

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recalled Justice Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court who was suspended with seven other justices in November 2016.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by the council’s Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye said the council also recalled Justice Uwani John of the Court of Appeal, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, Justice Hydiazira Nganjiwa and Justice Musa Kurya of the Federal High Court.

    Okoro and seven other judges were suspended after a raid on their homes by the State Security Service.

    Justice Agbadu Fishim of National Industrial Court of Nigeria also benefited from the council’s decision.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three of the affected judges were charged to court, but only Ademola’s case was conclude in which he was discharged and acquitted.

    Oye said the decisions were taken at the NJC’s 82nd meeting held on May 31 and June 1presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

  • Treat petitions on merit, lawyers urge NJC

    Treat petitions on merit, lawyers urge NJC

    Some lawyers have called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to treat all petitions before it on merit without favouritism or political bias.

    They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

    Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi said that the recent call by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen urging Nigerians to write petitions against corrupt judges was pertinent.

    Abdullahi, however, urged the council to handle all petitions and their investigations accordingly and devoid of prejudice.

    “The National Judicial Council, which is saddled with the responsibility of disciplinary actions on judges so to speak, should treat petitions against judges on merit.

    “We have heard of cases whereby some judges were being petitioned before the council and nothing was done while some judges had lost their jobs as a result of the petition.

    “All petitions should be treated on merit and if possible it should be done in the public,” he said.

    Mr Kola Adeyemi, while condemning alleged political undertones in the handling of high profile cases and petitions, reiterated the need for the rule of law in delivering justice.

    “The council should intensify efforts in sanitising the system and in training judges.

    “We need serious advocacy and penalties in purging the judiciary of any corrupt practice and serving judges need to sit up at this point,” he said.

  • Nigeria to implement cyber crime law – CJN

    Nigeria to implement cyber crime law – CJN

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen,  on Tuesday said Nigeria was proactively taking steps to ensure that the Cyber Crime Act of 2015 was implemented.

    Onnoghen said this at the 2nd Annual Conference on Financial Fraud and Cyber Crime in Abuja.

    The conference was organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with Organised Private Sector (OPS).

    Representing Onnoghen, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, Special Adviser to the President on Justice Reforms, said the Ministry of Justice was ensuring that cyber crime perpetrators were prosecuted for obstructing national security.

    “Our intention is to ensure that Nigeria is proactively implementing our Cyber Crime Act of 2015 and also to ensure that we are implementing the Advanced Fee Fraud Act of 2007.

    “We want to ensure that we are looking at cross border crimes that can affect the national security of Nigeria and we are taking proactive steps in that direction.

    He said that Nigeria was in a critical situation and if nothing was done to tackle cyber crime issues in the government and across private sector, the country might become subject to gruesome cyber attacks.

    “At that point it will be difficult for us to come out from it,” he said.

    According to him, trainings and collaborations are ongoing  among ministries, departments and agencies of government to ensure that officers are positioned to forestall cyber crime in their offices.

    “A lot of work is going on both from the office of the National Security Adviser where rapid response team is working closely with NITDA.

    Onnoghen said that work was also going on with the Nigeria Police Force, Economic Financial Crimes Commission as well as the Department of State Security Services.

    “There is an ongoing coordination platform called the Cyber Crime Advisory Committee working on developing policies and standards against cyber attack on Nigeria.

    He said that the working group was developing training programmes for law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and the financial sector.

    “We are taking steps to prevent cyber crime from becoming a problem and to prevent Nigeria from being vulnerable from such attacks,” Onnoghen said.

    Mr Chris Okeke, the Director, Cyber Security NITDA, said that the country adopting the Cyber Crime Act was a step in the right direction to ensure cyber protection.

    Okeke, however, said that before the adoption of the Act, the agency was working to protect the country’s government information system.

    “Passing the Cyber Crime into law is a great improvement and a step in the right direction, it is the way forward.

    “With the act, it is a platform and the foundation for curbing cyber crime in the country. The nation is making effort and agencies are collaborating with NITDA to ensure the effective implementation of the act.

    “You cannot introduce a software solution without ensuring that the software solution has adequate authentication, protection so that hackers don’t get access to it.

    He said that before the passage of the act, NITDA had been doing a lot to ensure that the comprehensive protections of IT solution deployed into the country were working.

    Mr Ayo Omotade, representing the OPS said that financial fraud and cyber crime was difficult to curb in the country due to lack of adequate manpower.

    Omotade said that the country needed to engage young people in cyber space education to equip more hands for its monitoring.

    “Financial fraud and cyber crimes are crimes perpetuated easily because the cyber space is difficult to monitor.

    “We have so many challenges handling the cyber space because we don’t have enough skilled manpower in the country and we are going into IT in every aspect of our lives.

    “The challenges are there and only few people can tackle them,”  he said.

    According to him, Nigeria has a long way to go in curtailing cyber crime, but the very sure way to handle it is capacity development right from an early age.

    He said this should be imbibed in the school curriculum and in different levels of education, primary, secondary and tertiary education.

    “Cyber crime education needs to come to all these spaces and counter measures should be adopted,” Omotade said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Cyber Crime Act was signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan on May 2015.

    The Act is to provide definitive legal machinery in Nigeria to provide for the tackling of the pervasive problem of cyber crime from all quarters both from the Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector and the legal community.

  • Osinbajo inaugurates Onnoghen as CJN

    Osinbajo inaugurates Onnoghen as CJN

    …gets GCON

    Justice Walter Onnoghen was on Tuesday inaugurated as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

    The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, who led the inaugurated was witnessed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former CJNs members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC); Justices of the Supreme Court, among others.

    After taking his oath of office, Osinbajo decorated Onnoghen with the second highest national honours of the Grand Commander of Order of the Niger (GCON).

    Details later.

     

  • Knocks, kudos for Buhari’s anti-graft battle

    The President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft battle on Thursday received knocks and kudos at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The occasion was the National Dialogue on Corruption organized by the office of the Vice President in collaboration with the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC).

    The good and bad of the present fight against corruption in the country took the centre stage at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja

    The newly confirmed Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, and Senator Chukwuka Utazi, who represented the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, faulted the ‘sting operation’ process against judges by the executives arm of government.

    Saraki specifically noted that the sting operation was carried out without the necessary court warrants.

    But Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, were on hand to defend the actions of the government.

    The occasion also saw the Chairman of PACAC, Professor Itse Sagay differing with the Country Officer and Head of Office,  Open Society Initiative for West Africa,  Jude Iloh over the February 6th protests against Buhari’s government.

    While seeking international cooperation to defeat corruption in Nigeria, the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo said that corruption is an existential threat to Nigeria both as a nation and as an viable economic entity.

    He said: “But the truth of the matter is that we all know that corruption in Nigeria is systemic. It doesn’t matter whether it is the Executive arm of government, the judiciary or the legislature, every arm of government is involved in this systemic and life threatening social anomaly called corruption.

    “There’s no question at all. And it affects all segments of the society. It affects the religious, it affects agencies and civil society groups. There’s no one in our nation that can say they are not in one way or the other, not necessarily being complicit but at least under some influence or the other of some of the implications of corruption. “

     

  • Saraki congratulates Onnoghen

    Saraki congratulates Onnoghen

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has congratulated the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, for his confirmation by the Senate on Wednesday.

    Saraki, who felicitated with Onnoghen on his Facebbok page, said that the man’s confirmation was a major milestone in Nigeria’s democratic process.

    “Today, we screened and cleared Justice Walter Onnoghen, for confirmation as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

    “The screening represents a major milestone in the progress of our democratic process.

    “I am pleased to note that all arms of government have played their parts exactly as envisaged in our Constitution.

    “On behalf of my distinguished colleagues, I congratulate Justice Walter Onnoghen for his well-deserved elevation to the highest judicial office in the land.

    “This achievement should underscore the inspiring reality that a Nigerian can grow to any position he merits,” he said.

    The President of the senate, however, urged Onnoghen to deepen the productive relationship between the legislature and the judiciary.

    He pledged that the senate “will collaborate with the two other arms to support critical reforms and other initiatives that will improve the integrity and the impact of the judiciary.

    “On behalf of my colleagues, I wish Justice Walter Onnoghen a most fruitful tenure as Chief Justice of Nigeria”.

    The new Chief Justice of Nigeria was appointed in acting capacity by President Muhammadu Buhari on Nov. 10, 2016, following the retirement of Justice Mahmud Mohammed.

    His appointment was also on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.

  • Senate confirms Onnoghen as CJN

    Senate confirms Onnoghen as CJN

    The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Justice Walter Onnoghen as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

    The confirmation followed the screening of the nominee by the Committee of the Whole.

    Details later…