Presidential election petitions: Supreme Court denies alleged CJN, Tinubu phone conversation

Alex Enumah in Abuja 

The Supreme Court of Nigeria, on Wednesday, denied report that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, had any telephone conversation with anybody, including President Ahmed Bola Tinubu over the on-going proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PREPEC), hearing complaints against the 2023 general election.

According to the court, Justice Ariwoola neither spoke with Tinubu nor the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) with a view to pressurizing the PREPEC on the likely judgment to give in respect of the petitions.

The Director of Press and Information, Supreme Court of Nigeria, Dr Festus Akande, made the clarification in a statement Wednesday in Abuja.

The statement read in part: “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 His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) with a view to pressurizing 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 proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal with admirable enthusiasm. So, it is advisable 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. 

“If this current trend of falsehood and mudslinging is sustained, our nation may not make the desired progress. 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.”