The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, allegedly met with Bola Tinubu, the incoming president of Nigeria, in London, according to media reports, which have been refuted by the Supreme Court.
The CJN met with Mr. Tinubu in London while wearing a wheelchair disguise, according to an internet platform’s report on Thursday.
The PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi are suing Mr. Tinubu over his victory in the 25 February presidential election in Nigeria.
Festus Akande, a spokesman for the Supreme Court, asserted that the article included not a shred of reality in a Friday interview.
Contrary to accusations made in the article that Mr. Ariwoola left Nigeria on March 11 for a meeting with the president-elect in the United Kingdom, Mr. Akande stated that “the CJN has been in Nigeria and presided over sessions of the National Judicial Council (NJC) conducted on March 16 and 17.”
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This publication said that the NJC suspended Taraba State Chief Judge Philibus Andetur from his position on March 17 due to misbehaviour during a meeting that was presided over by Mr. Ariwoola.
Mr. Akande said that the CJN only left Nigeria for a brief time on March 18 to travel to London for medical treatment. He was accompanied by NJC Secretary Ahmed Gambo.
“On March 23, the CJN returned from his medical visit to London and reported at the office (in Abuja), where he worked till 8 p.m.,” he added.
Before the CJN’s journey to London, Mr. Ariwoola, according to Mr. Akande, informed President Muhammadu Buhari of the itinerary.
“On January 25, the CJN travelled just once for the Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia. He returned on January 29, 2023, the Supreme Court spokeswoman said.
After Jumat prayers at a mosque inside the grounds of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Mr. Ariwoola was observed leaving the Supreme Court’s CJN’s chambers on Friday with a retinue of staffers in behind.
