THE Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed reports that Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has had a telephone conversation with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the impending outcome of petitions challenging the latter’s declaration as president by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Some online publications (not Symfoninews) had accused the CJN of engaging in a telephone conversation with President Tinubu in which the two discussed soft landing for the president in the event the Tribunal orders a re-run of the February 25, 2023, Presidential election.
The online publications also alleged that the CJN had a further telephone conversation with the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS) to seek ways to pressurise the Tribunal to sway its final decision in the president’s favour.
Dismissing the reports in a statement signed by Dr Festus Akande, the Director of Press and Information, the Supreme Court said the reports were figments of the imagination of the authors.
Also Read: Wike’s Dinner: PDP Asks CJN Ariwoola To Resign
The statement reads: “In view of the rumour currently circulating in the social media space that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, had a telephone conversation with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) with a view to pressurising the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on the likely judgment to give, it is imperative to state clearly that there is no iota of truth in the narrative, as there was no such telephone conversation between the CJN and anyone.
“Nigerians have been following the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal proceedings with admirable enthusiasm. So, it is advisable that we all sustain the tempo and follow it up to the end instead of relapsing into the realm of speculations and rumour peddling that will not do anyone any good.
The Supreme Court further warned that “If this current trend of falsehood and mudslinging is sustained, our nation may not make the desired progress.”
According to the statement, “the Courts are statutorily established to serve the best interest of the masses; and we are ever poised to do that to the best of our ability. We wish to plead with everyone to cooperate with the judiciary to serve the country to its full capacity, as no one will ever be favoured against the other in any dispute.
“The rule of law and supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution will always be upheld and applied in every matter that comes before the courts, as the facts presented and the subsisting laws must be applied in determining the merit or otherwise of each matter.
“The public should be rest assured that justice will be done to all matters pending in the various courts across the country, irrespective of who is involved,” it promised.
