By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has named Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar to be confirmed as the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, by the Senate.
In a letter to the Senate and read at the plenary by Senate President David Mark, Jonathan said her nomination was in conformity with Section 231 sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, there was, however, a mild drama at the Senate, yesterday, when the Senate Committee on Public Petition walked out the Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa, during a hearing organised by the committee.
The President’s letter to the Senate seeking the confirmation of Justice Mukhtar read: “In conformity with Section 231 sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which gives the president powers to appoint a Chief Justice of Nigeria, acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to confirmation of the appointment by the Senate, I have the honour to forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, CON, CFR for confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“It is my hope that this request will receive the usual expeditious attention of the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Jonathan, in another letter to the Senate President sought the confirmation of Hon. Justices Kumai Bayang Akaahs (North West zone) and Stanley Shenko Alagoa (South South zone) as Justices of the Court of Appeal.
In the letter, Jonathan said both “appointments have been necessitated by the impending retirement from service of Hon. Justice Dahiru Musdapher, Chief Justice of Nigeria, and Hon. Justice F F Tabai.”
Senate walks out BPE boss
Ms Onagoruwa was ordered out of the committee hearing by the Chairman, Senator Patrick Ayo Akinyelure, LP Ondo Central when she appeared before the committee to answer summons based on a petition written by a staff of the BPE, who alleged wrongful dismissal.
When she appeared before the committee, the senators refused to recognise her as the chief executive of the BPE, in compliance with the Senate’s resolution which indicted her and recommended her sack over the handling of the privatisation process.
It would be recalled that the Senate while considering the report of Senator Ahmed Lawan-led Committee on Privatization process had recommended, among others, that Onagoruwa be sacked.
Senate refuses to recognise her as BPE CEO
Before she was asked to leave the venue of the hearing, Akinyelure had requested Onagoruwa to send a senior officer of the BPE to represent the agency at the hearing.
Responding, Onagoruwa informed the committee that she remains the substantive chief executive of the BPE and refused to send a representative as demanded by the senators to answer issues raised in the petition.
It was at this stage that the committee chairman, after consultations with senators present, asked Onagoruwa to leave the venue of the hearing as the committee does not recognise her as the chief executive of the BPE and as such would not allow her to participate in the exercise.
An angry Onagoruwa, accompanied by her aides, thereafter stormed out of the hearing venue.
SOURCE: 5 JULY 2012.
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