President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) in acting capacity.
At the swearing in ceremony on Thursday President Buhari asked the Acting Chief Judge to be on his toes, as his swearing in came at a time the nation was going through trying times.
The President congratulated the predecessor, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, for a job well done and asked Justice Onnoghen to join hands with the administration to tackle insecurity and corruption in the land.
Justice Onnoghen, the most senior judge in the Supreme Court, is replacing Justice Mohammed, who attained the mandatory 70 years retirement age.
Justice Onnoghen will act pending the appointment of a substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria by the President, who would have to forward the name of the appointee to the Senate for confirmation.
However, the National Judicial Council had on October 5 formally received the nomination of Justice Onnoghen as the new CJN for onward recommendation to President Buhari.