by Dolapo Adelana

The acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday said Nigerians have lost confidence in all arms of government in the country.

Osinbajo said this while inaugurating Justice Walter Onnoghen as the 17th Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Present at the inauguration which held inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja was the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former CJNs, members of the Federal Executive Council, Justices of the Supreme Court and Onnoghen’s family members among others.

Shortly after taking his oath of office, Onnoghen was decorated by Osinbajo with the second highest national honour of the Grand Commander of Order of the Niger in line with tradition.

The acting President noted that Onnoghen’s inauguration had made him the custodian and protector of the highest duties that society owes its people – fairness, justice and truth.

He added that since Judges were not forced to take up the responsibility, they will be held to higher standards.

Osinbajo said, “We do not force men and women to be judges, they voluntarily take on the position of high priests in the temple of justice.

“They will, of course, be held to a much higher standard, a much higher moral and ethical standard than the rest of us. They must not only be seen to be just, they must be just indeed.

“The mere perception of judicial malfeasance poisons the waters of justice let alone the reality while delay in the administration of justice often defeats the ends of justice.”

Osinbajo told Onnoghen that he became CJN at a time Nigerians had lost confidence in all Nigerians of government.

Osinbajo said, “My Lord, you assumed this position at a crucial time in the history of our nation. It is a time when all arms of government have suffered the loss of confidence of the people of this nation and it is so also with the judiciary.

“It is a time when our Lords and Justices of our courts are called upon to resuscitate that confidence that the people of this nation want to have in the institutions of government and indeed in the judiciary. I pray that your tenure will revive and sustain that confidence.”

In his remarks, Onnoghen solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders to succeed.

The CJN said the independence of the judiciary should be encouraged and the rule of law respected.

He said, “From past experience, the key to everything in a democratic setting is adherence to the rule of law. There lies the solution to our problems.

“Let us try to encourage the independence of the judiciary so as to ensure the rule of law.

“If everyone realises that they are subject to the rule of law and that there are certain things that are tackled according to the rule of law and they behave accordingly, it will benefit all of us.”