Meeting Between CJN, Tinubu In London ends in deadlock

Public opinions have been divided over an alleged meeting between the  Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, had a secret meeting with the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in London.

For the past three days, the social media have been awash with series of reports  alleging that Justice Ariwoola disguised himself in a wheelchair to have a meeting with the President-elect.

Meanwhile, Tinubu whose legitimacy is being challenged by his major opponents in the February 25 presidential election had travelled to London at about the same period.

Reacting to the allegation, the Supreme Court denied that Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, had a secret meeting with the Tinubu, in London.

While the Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC-PCC) had earlier denied that there was any meeting between the President-elect and CJN Ariwoola, Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Publicity of the APC-PCC, insisted that Tinubu, who left Nigeria on Tuesday, has not been in London, saying he was still in France to have a deserved rest, after a hectic campaign that began in January 2022.

He added that Tinubu would go to London thereafter before proceeding to Mecca for the lesser Hajj.

However, the Supreme Court, through its spokesperson, Festus Akande, on Friday, denied the allegation that the CJN and Tinubu held a meeting.

Akande maintained that the CJN had been in the country, stressing that he presided over a meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC), held on March 16 and 17.

However, Akande, in a chat with newsmen, admitted that the CJN had actually visited London on March 18 for medical attention.

He added that it was after the NJC meeting that the CJN, in company with NJC’s Secretary, Gambo Saleh, travelled to London on March 18, for medical care.

“On March 23, the CJN returned from his medical trip to London and later reported to the office where he worked till 8pm.

“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, 2023,” Akande clarified.