Senate to confirm Muhammed as CJN

Senate to confirm Muhammed as CJN ------Recieves President Jonathans letter on State of Emergency in Bornu,Yobe And Adamawa By Okechukwu Jombo Senate will today screen and possibly clear Justice Mahmud Muhammed president Goodluck Jonathans nominee for the seat of Chief Justice of the Nation CJN He is to replace retiring CJN Justice Aloma Muhktar who steps down November 20. Senate will also receive President Goodlucks letter on the State of Emergency imposed on Bornu,Yobe,Adamawa which expired yesterday.He might ask for full Emergency ruleon the troubled states The emergency rule was first declared in the affected states on May 14, 2013 by President Goodluck Jonathan over the continued activities of members of the Boko Haram sect. Since that first declaration of six months, the emergency rule had been extended twice. The third tranche of six-month emergency rule expires on Thursday While declaring emergency rule in the three states in 2013 in a nationwide broadcast, Jonathan had invoked Section 305 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. He had announced that regardless of the state of emergency imposed, the political structures in the affected states would remain intact. Following continued violence in the state in spite of the emergency rule, there were calls for the sacking of the state governors to pave way for the appointment of military administrators. The Presidency had however said it was unconstitutional for the President to sack state governors. Mahmud’s name had been sent to the lawmakers in a letter by President Goodluck Jonathan dated November 10. The letter indicated that the nomination was in line with section 231 sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Speaking at last Thursday’s plenary, Senate President David Mark told his colleagues that the screening would hold next Tuesday “in the committee of the whole.” The lawmakers in committee will also meet over the Petroleum Industrial Bill PIB which had been in the Legislatures since last year