The Supreme Court on Wednesday described as untrue reports that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, had a telephone conversation with President Bola Tinubu and the Director General of the Department of State Services on the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
The apex court warned that if
the current trend of falsehood and mudslinging continued to be sustained,
Nigeria may not make the desired progress.
The Director of Press and
Information in the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande, made the clarification in
a statement titled, “No telephone conversations between CJN and anyone
concerning the Presidential Election Petition.”
He 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 with a view to pressurising the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal
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 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. 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 favoured 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.”
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