The Supreme Court of Nigeria has refuted claims making the rounds on social media that President Bola Tinubu had a phone conversation with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola pertaining to the pending proceedings before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
Dr. Festus Akande, the apex court’s spokesman, stated this in a statement on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
Akande stated that “there is no iota of truth in the narrative” because the CJN never had a telephone conversation with Tinubu “with a view to pressuring the Presidential Election Petition Court on the likely judgment to give”.
Akande said, “In view of the rumor 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 Service (DSS) with a view to pressuring the Presidential Election Petition Court 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 Court 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 rumor peddling that will not do anyone any good”.
Akande further stated that the spread of such fake news will only overheat the country.
“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,” he said.
He further urged the public to cooperate with the CJN and the judiciary in its bid to serve the country better. He also stated the judiciary’s relentless efforts to ensure that justice is served in all cases, regardless of who is involved.
“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 favored 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 rest assured that justice will be done to all matters pending in the various courts across the country, irrespective of who is involved,” Akande noted.
