JUST IN: Guests disperse as swearing-in of Justice Tsoho as Acting CJ of FHC fails to hold

Twenty-four hours after Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati retired as
the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, nobody has been sworn in
to replace him as of Friday.

The scheduled swearing-in of the next most senior judge of the
court, Justice John Tsoho, as the Acting Chief Judge of the court,
failed to hold on Friday.

Guests, including a former Attorney-General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice, Michael Andoakaa (SAN), who were at the
Supreme Court for the event scheduled to take place at 10:00 a.m.
on Friday have dispersed.

Also, another judge of the court, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun,
who was also at the ceremonial court of the apex court left around
10:40 a.m. when there was no sign in sight that the event would
hold.

Justice Tsoho was also at the venue briefly before he left.

No formal announcement cancelling the event was made on Friday,
although press invitation was issued by the apex court earlier on
Thursday.

Although the oath-taking by Tsoho was supposed to be presided by
the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, there were
speculations on Friday that the CJN refused to show up for the
event on the grounds that he had yet to receive any communication
from President Muhammadu Buhari in respect of the appointment.

As was the court’s tradition, the second most senior judge of
the court, Justice John Tsoho, ordinarily should be sworn-in the
next day (July 26), in an acting capacity, pending confirmation by
the Senate.

By 9.30am on Friday, Justice Tsoho, some other judges of the
Federal High Court and other officials of the court were already
seated in the ceremonial court of the Supreme Court, venue of the
planned swearing-in, scheduled But, by 11.30am it is still not
clear if the event will hold.

Officials of the Supreme Court, who are always around prior to
the commencement of such events, were absent.

An official of the court later came to inform those already
seated that he has been instructed to lock the door to the
ceremonial court.

Guest and officials of the FHC, who had come to witness the
event later vacated the courtroom.

While some later left the court premises. others are still
waiting at the Supreme Court’s foyer for an official position o the
issue.

For now, the FHC is currently without a Chief Judge, since
Justice Kafarati retired formally on July 25 and Justice Tsoho, who
is the most senior judge of the court, has‎ not bee
inaugurated.

Details later.

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