Supreme Court Denies Reports Of The Chief Justice Of Nigeria Secretly Meeting With Tinubu In London

The Supreme Court has denied reports in the media that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, met with Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu, in London.

On Thursday, Peoples Gazette reported that the CJN arrived in London disguised in a wheelchair and met with Mr Tinubu.

Mr Tinubu’s victory in Nigeria’s presidential election on February 25th is being challenged in court by the PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi.

However, in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, Supreme Court spokesperson Festus Akande stated that the Peoples Gazette report contained no truth.

Mr. Akande stated that “the CJN has been in Nigeria, and presided over meetings of the National Judicial Council (NJC) held on 16th and 17th March, “in contrast to the report’s claim that Mr Ariwoola traveled out of Nigeria on 11th March to the United Kingdom to meet with the president-elect.

He stated that on March 17, following a meeting presided over by Mr Ariwoola, the NJC issued a statement suspending Taraba State Chief Judge Philibus Andetur from office for misconduct.

Mr Akande revealed that the CJN only left Nigeria on March 18 for a brief visit to London for medical treatment, accompanied by the NJC’s Secretary, Gambo Saleh.

“On the 23rd of March, the CJN returned from his medical trip to London and later reported in the office (in Abuja), where he worked until 8 p.m,” he said.

According to Mr Akande, Mr Ariwoola informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his trip to London.

He went on to say, “The only time the CJN travelled earlier this year was on January 25, when he travelled to Saudi Arabia for Lesser Hajj.” He returned on January 29, 2023.”