- The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayoode Ariwoola, has denied reports that he discussed the pending post-election petitions before the Presidential Election Petitions Court with President Bola Tinubu
- Ariwoola stated that the judiciary has no plans to favour any of the petitioners or respondents in the pending petitions before the court
- The CJN pleaded with Nigerians to work with the judiciary to ensure that it can fully serve the country
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayoode Ariwoola, has denied reports that he discussed the pending post-election petitions before the Presidential Election Petitions Court with President Bola Tinubu and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Yusuf Bichi.
Ariwoola stated that the judiciary has no plans to favour any of the petitioners or respondents in the pending petitions before the court, particularly Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
The CJN stated that there is no iota of truth in the narrative on social media in a statement issued by the Supreme Court’s Director of Information, Dr Festus Akande, on Wednesday.
The CJN pleaded with Nigerians to work with the judiciary to ensure that it can fully serve the country.
He said;
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 rumor 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.
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.