Senate To FG: Forward Justice Kafarati’s Nomination As CJ Fed High Court

Senate yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to forward
nomination of Justice Abdu Kafarati to the upper legislative
chamber for approval as substantive Chief Judge (CJ) of the Federal
High Court to avoid constitutional crisis.

Following the failure of the Presidency to nominate successor to
the former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim
Auta who was due to retire on Saturday September 16, 2017, the
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJNP Justice Walter Onnoghen, on the same
Saturday, swore-in Justice Kafarati, as the Acting Chief Judge of
the Federal High Court.

Justice Kafarati was then the next most senior Justice of that
court of first instance in the country.

In his remarks after administering the oath, the CJN said, “The
Federal High Court is a very critical court in the jurisprudence of
Nigeria. It is very strategic.”

He said the swearing-in was done during the weekend to avoid a
vacuum in the leadership of the high court. “That is why we are
here today. Even if it has not been done before it has been done
now”, Justice Onnoghen jokingly added.

In the same light, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki said the
Federal High Court cannot be left to stay without a Chief Judge.
‘’The time to do the needful by the executive is fast running out.
Once the Presidency forward his name to this chamber, his
confirmation or approval will be made in dispatch to avoid
crisis’’.

The senate resolution followed the motion moved by the chairman
of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters,
Senator David Umaru (Niger East), to draw the attention of his
colleagues to looming crisis in the Federal High Court.

Senator Umaru said Justice Kafarati was appointed on September
16, 2017 to act as the Chief Judge for three months, and his acting
capacity was subsequently renewed for another three months which is
about to expire soon.

‘’Justice Kafarati’s acting capacity can no longer be renewed or
extended. The Presidency is yet to forward his name for our
approval or confirmation as required by the constitution’’, Senator
Umaru said.

Justice Kafarati’s acting capacity is due to expire by March 16,
this year.

Meanwhile, senate yesterday confirmed Hon. Ibrahim Rufai Imam,
as the new Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal.

Speaking after the confirmation, Saraki said: “Let me on behalf
of the entire Senate congratulate the new Grand Khadi, Sharia Court
of Appeal, Hon. Ibrahim Rufai Imam and wish him a successful
tenure. I hope that he continues to play his role in the
judiciary.”

However, the Senate President has also revealed that since the
8th Senate was inaugurated in June 2015, it has confirmed 227 out
of 240 nominees that it received from the executive.

Senate yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to forward
nomination of Justice Abdu Kafarati to the upper legislative
chamber for approval as substantive Chief Judge (CJ) of the Federal
High Court to avoid constitutional crisis.

Following the failure of the Presidency to nominate successor to
the former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim
Auta who was due to retire on Saturday September 16, 2017, the
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJNP Justice Walter Onnoghen, on the same
Saturday, swore-in Justice Kafarati, as the Acting Chief Judge of
the Federal High Court.

Justice Kafarati was then the next most senior Justice of that
court of first instance in the country.

In his remarks after administering the oath, the CJN said, “The
Federal High Court is a very critical court in the jurisprudence of
Nigeria. It is very strategic.”

He said the swearing-in was done during the weekend to avoid a
vacuum in the leadership of the high court. “That is why we are
here today. Even if it has not been done before it has been done
now”, Justice Onnoghen jokingly added.

In the same light, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki said the
Federal High Court cannot be left to stay without a Chief Judge.
‘’The time to do the needful by the executive is fast running out.
Once the Presidency forward his name to this chamber, his
confirmation or approval will be made in dispatch to avoid
crisis’’.

The senate resolution followed the motion moved by the chairman
of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters,
Senator David Umaru (Niger East), to draw the attention of his
colleagues to looming crisis in the Federal High Court.

Senator Umaru said Justice Kafarati was appointed on September
16, 2017 to act as the Chief Judge for three months, and his acting
capacity was subsequently renewed for another three months which is
about to expire soon.

‘’Justice Kafarati’s acting capacity can no longer be renewed or
extended. The Presidency is yet to forward his name for our
approval or confirmation as required by the constitution’’, Senator
Umaru said.

Justice Kafarati’s acting capacity is due to expire by March 16,
this year.

Meanwhile, senate yesterday confirmed Hon. Ibrahim Rufai Imam,
as the new Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal.

Speaking after the confirmation, Saraki said: “Let me on behalf
of the entire Senate congratulate the new Grand Khadi, Sharia Court
of Appeal, Hon. Ibrahim Rufai Imam and wish him a successful
tenure. I hope that he continues to play his role in the
judiciary.”

However, the Senate President has also revealed that since the
8th Senate was inaugurated in June 2015, it has confirmed 227 out
of 240 nominees that it received from the executive.