Supreme Court Rejects Rumors Of Phone Call Between CJI, President Tinubu

The Supreme Court rejected the rumors of President Bola Tinubu and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola having a phone call regarding the presidential election petition.

President Tinubu's victory has been challenged in court by two leading opposition party candidates: Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

Dr. Festus Akande, Director of Press and Information in the Supreme Court, slammed the rumors on Wednesday and said that there has been no phone call between the President and Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Dr. Akande said, "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," Punch reported.

Dr. Akande noted that Nigerians have been following the court proceedings related to the presidential election petition Tribunal with admirable enthusiasm.

Hence, it is advisable that everyone "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."

Dr. Akande further shared that if this "current trend of falsehood and mudslinging is sustained," then Nigeria won't be able to make the desired progress, adding that the "courts are statutorily established to serve the best interest of the masses."

"We are ever poised to do that to the best of our ability," he added. "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 favored against the other in any dispute."

He added, "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."

Ahead of Supreme Court's clarification on the issue, President Tinubu's ruling political party, All Progressives Congress (APC) also denied the rumors on Tuesday by sharing a statement on Twitter.

"President Tinubu & our Party won the last Presidential election without a doubt, and do not have any need to engage in side conversations with the CJN regarding pending petitions before the Presidential Election Petitions Court," APC wrote alongside the statement attached in photo format.

In the statement, the party mentioned that this rumor was spread "intentionally" by a Twitter user named Mr. Jackson Ude, noting that there is no truth in it.