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Lawyer Sues Buhari Over CJN’s Non-Confirmation …NASS Caucus Kicks
A lawyer and rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, yesterday filed a suit seeking a restraining order on the appointment of a new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) other than Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Onnoghen, 67, Supreme Court Justice since 2015, from Cross River State, a 1977 Law graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon, and Nigerian Law School, Lagos in 1978, was sworn in as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Muhammadu Buahri.
Joined as co-defendants in the suit are the Senate, the National Judicial Council, Justice Walter Onnoghen and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Adegboruwa asked the court to direct that the name of Justice Walter Onnoghen be forwarded forthwith to the Senate for confirmation as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
He asked the court for an order of injunction restraining the appointment of another candidate for presentation to the Senate for the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, apart from Justice Walter Onnoghen.
The lawyer argued that Onnoghen was the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court who had been selected and recommended by the National Judicial Council.
Adegboruwa also asked the court to stop the Senate from accepting, deliberating upon or considering the nomination of any other candidate that may be forwarded to it, apart from Onnoghen.
The human rights activist also sought an order of injunction to restrain the National Judicial Council from entertaining any request to consider another candidate for the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Adegboruwa also prayed the court to direct Justice Walter Onnoghen to assume and take over the functions of the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, ’’until he is confirmed or attains the mandatory age of 70 years.’’
He further argued that it had never been the style of the executive to leave a vacuum in the highest judicial office of the land.
Adegboruwa stated that by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the President had no discretion in the choice of candidates to occupy the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, other than the person recommended by the National Judicial Council.
No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.
Meanwhile, worried over the delay in transmitting the name of Justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the Cross River State National Assembly Caucus has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, send the name without delay, or face unpredictable backlash.
According to the senators and members of House of Representatives from Cross River State, the continuous delay of President Buhari to forward Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for screening and subsequent confirmation without any lawful and constitutional cause, has brought the issue of the independence of the judiciary and security of tenure of judges to doubt and public discourse.
Addressing journalists, yesterday, on behalf of the 11 members of the caucus, Senator John Enoh (PDP-Cross River Central), explained that the appointment of Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria has become imperative against the backdrop that succession to the position has been based on merit and seniority.
The caucus added that the established order and convention has imbued the judiciary with a measure of stability and positioned it to play the critical role of dispensing justice immune to it undue influence of powerful vested interests.
They, therefore, urged the president to do the needful, and save Nigerians the agony of unnecessary instability and uncertainty in the judiciary.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
