President  Muhammadu Buhari has written acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr Tanko Muhammad, to initiate the process of appointing five new justices of the Supreme Court.

The President’s decision was made public on Sunday in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu.

Buhari also stated that he welcomed the voluntary retirement of Mr Walter Onnoghen, the former CJN, from service.

The statement quoted Buhari’s letter thus, “Pursuant to the provisions of Section 230(2) A&B of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I am pleased to request that you initiate in earnest the process of appointing additional five Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to make the full complement of 21 Justices as provided by the aforementioned provisions of the Constitution.

“This is in line with the government’s agenda of repositioning the judiciary in general and Supreme Court in particular for greater efficiency, with a view to reducing the backlogs of appeals pending at Supreme Court.

‘‘Please accept, your Lordship, the assurances of my highest regards.’’

On Onnoghen’s retirement, the statement added, “Mr Buhari has accepted the voluntary retirement from service of Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria, effective from May 28, 2019.

“The President thanked Onnoghen for his service to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and wished him the best of retirement life.”

Punch