Posted by According to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu and Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN Justice Olukayode Ariwoola did not speak on the phone about the pending petition over the 2023 presidential election.
The Supreme Court ruled that Justice Ariwoola didn’t speak with Tinubu or the head of the Department of State Service (DSS) in an effort to exert pressure on the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal over the ruling.
The clarification was provided in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja by Dr. Akande Festus, Director of Press and Information for the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The statement said, in part, “It is imperative to state clearly that there is no iota of truth to 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 Tribunal on the likely judgment to give.
With remarkable passion, Nigerians have been watching the proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Therefore, it is advised that we all keep the pace and see it through to the end rather than slipping back into the world of speculating and spreading false rumors that will not benefit anyone.
“If the current pattern of deceit and mudslinging continues, our country might not reach the development we want. The courts are mandated by law to serve the general welfare, and we are constantly prepared to uphold that mandate to the best of our abilities.
No one will ever be favored against the other in a disagreement, therefore we kindly ask everyone to work with the judiciary to serve the nation to the best of its ability. In every case that is brought before the courts in Nigeria, the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution shall always be upheld and applied; each case’s merit must be assessed in light of the facts and the applicable laws.
No matter who was involved, the statement stated, “the public should be at ease that justice will be served to all matters pending in the various courts across the country.”