In response to circulating rumors on social media, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has officially refuted the allegations of having a telephone conversation with President Bola Tinubu regarding the pending proceedings before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
The CJN’s denial was communicated through a statement issued by his spokesman, Dr. Festus Akande, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
The statement clarified: “There is no truth to the rumor circulating on social media 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) to influence the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court.”
The statement urged the public to refrain from engaging in speculation and rumor peddling and encouraged them to patiently await the conclusion of the ongoing proceedings.
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It emphasized that justice will be served impartially in all matters before the courts, regardless of the parties involved.
Furthermore, the statement called for cooperation with the judiciary to ensure the effective functioning of the legal system, reiterating that no individual would receive preferential treatment in any dispute.
It emphasized the commitment to upholding the rule of law and the supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution in all judicial decisions.
In a related development, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) also discredited the alleged phone conversation between CJN Ariwoola and President Tinubu.
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The party’s spokesman, Felix Morka, labeled the rumor as mischievous and intentionally misleading.
He asserted that President Tinubu and the party had won the previous presidential election fairly and had no need for private discussions with the CJN about the pending petitions.
Morka further emphasized that the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) should be allowed the necessary time and space to perform its constitutional duty without unwarranted doubts cast on the integrity of the judges.
He condemned the spread of falsehoods and conjectures designed to create panic and doubt ahead of the court’s verdict.
The APC expressed confidence in the discernment of Nigerians, believing that they would not be influenced by such tactics and would await the court’s verdict with maturity and understanding.
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