Supreme court: There was no meeting between Tinubu and CJN

The supreme court has denied claims that Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), had a secret meeting with Bola Tinubu, president-elect.

Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the presidential election held on February 25.

The election, however, is being challenged by Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP); Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and some other candidates who participated in the presidential poll.

An online media had, on Thursday, reported that the CJN disguised in a wheelchair and travelled to London, where he met with Tinubu.

The report claimed Ariwoola departed Nigeria on March 11 via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

On Friday, Festus Akande, director of press and information at the apex court, said there is no iota of truth in the report.

Speaking with Premium Times, Akande said the CJN has been in Nigeria and presided over meetings of the National Judicial Council (NJC) held on March 16 and 17.

Akande added that the CJN travelled out of Nigeria briefly to London on March 18 for medical care and was accompanied by Gambo Saleh, NJC’s secretary, only.

“On March 23, the CJN returned from his medical trip to London and later reported in the office (in Abuja), where he worked till 8p.m,” Akande said.

“The only time the CJN travelled earlier this year was on January 25, when he travelled for Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia. He returned on January 29.”

A video circulating on social media showed the CJN at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque in Abuja where he attended Jumat prayers on Friday.

Meanwhile, the APC campaign council has also issued a statement claiming there was no meeting between  Tinubu and Ariwoola.

In a statement on Thursday, Bayo Onanuga, media director of the campaign council, said there is an attempt to create doubt about the legitimacy of the election that produced Tinubu as president-elect.

Onanuga said the president-elect is currently in Paris, France, and not in the UK.