Obasanjo swears-in Kutigi as Ag CJN... Despite non-clearance by Senate

From: KABIRU YUSUF, Abuja with agency report

The Senate yesterday declined to screen Justice Idris Kutigi for the post of the Chief Justice of Nigeria following the failure of the presidency to present his Code of Conduct form and security report.
Kutigi has been penciled down as the new chief justice of the country following the retirement of Justice Alfa Belgore last Wednesday.
In declining to screen the justice, the senators expressed its augst with the presidency for inferring that they could do the job without the documents.
Contributing, Sen David Mark accused presidential liaison officer, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, of dictating to the Senate, saying it is not in her place to tell the law makers how to go about their job.
But Sen. Isa Muhammad from Niger pleaded with his colleagues to proceed with the screening and look at the documents later.
Sen. Adolphus Wabara, on his part, said the justice had been sworn in and wondered what type of screening needed to be done.
Responding, Senate President Ken Nnamani said the swearing-in could have been in acting capacity to avoid a vacuum.
A motion by Sen. Hayatu Gwarzo to step down the screening till Tuesday was unanimously adopted by the Senate after it was seconded by Sen. Ike Ekweremadu.
Meanwhile, President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday sworn in Justice Idris Kutigi as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria saying that government is confident that Nigerian judiciary will enhance the course of justice in the country.
Performing the ceremony in the main chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja , the president explained that his administration is optimist that the judiciary is the last hope of the citizenry.
The president expressed hope that the Senate will expedite action in clearing the acting chief justice of Nigeria for the appointment adding that the country needs the good service of the judiciary, especially now that the nation is heading for yet another transition from one civilian administration to other.
According to the president, the appointment and swearing in of the acting chief justice of the federation are in line with Section 231 sub-section four of the Nigerian Constitution which empowers the president to appoint the most senior justice of the supreme court to act when the seat is vacant.
The seat of the chief justice of the federation was last Wednesday following the retirement of the former chief justice, Alfa Belgore on reaching the mandatory age of 70 years.
The acting chief justice of Nigeria who attended Bida Middle School, Barewa College and Ahmad Bello University before proceeding to University of London, was born in Kutigi town of Niger state.
Justice Kutigi who served his fatherland in various capacities at the judiciary, was called to Bar in 1965 and later Nigerian Bar in 1966.