By Shola Abayomi.
President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the voluntary retirement from service of Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria, effective from May 28, 2019.
The President expressed gratitude to Onnoghen for his service to the nation and wished him well in retirement.
President Buhari also wrote the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, signaling the appointment of five new Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The media aide to the president, Garba Shehu made this known yesterday.
The President wrote: ‘‘Pursuant to the provisions of Section 230(2) A&B of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I am pleased to request that you initiate in earnest the process of appointing additional five Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to make the full complement of 21 Justices as provided by the aforementioned provisions of the Constitution.
‘‘This is in line with the Government’s Agenda of repositioning the Judiciary in general and Supreme Court in particular for greater efficiency, with a view to reducing the backlogs of appeals pending at the Supreme Court.
‘‘Please accept, your Lordship, the assurances of my highest regards.’’