The spokesman to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dr. Festus Akande, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 issued a statement to refute a circulating allegations of a phone conversation between him and President Bola Tinubu, concerning the ongoing proceedings before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
What the CJN, Ariwoola has to say
The CJN’s statement categorically dismissed the rumors, stating, “There is no iota of truth in the narrative, as there was no such telephone conversation between the CJN and anyone.”
The denial comes in the wake of social media speculation and rumor peddling surrounding the high-profile case.
Addressing the public’s keen interest in the PEPC proceedings, the statement urged everyone to maintain their focus on following the case to its conclusion, emphasizing the importance of avoiding baseless speculations that could be detrimental to the nation’s progress.
Furthermore, the statement emphasized that the judiciary’s duty is to serve the interests of the masses, with a commitment to upholding the rule of law and the supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution in every matter that comes before the courts.
The CJN called for cooperation from all parties involved and assured the public that justice would be delivered impartially, regardless of the individuals or entities involved in the cases pending in various courts across the country.
APC’s Reactions
Earlier, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had also dismissed the alleged phone call between the CJN and President Tinubu.
Party spokesman, Felix Morka, condemned the dissemination of false information by certain individuals and stressed the need to allow the Presidential Election Petitions Court to perform its constitutional duty without undue interference.
As the nation awaits the court’s verdict on the matter, the statement concluded with a plea for responsible and discerning behavior from the public, emphasizing that falsehood and conjecture should not undermine the judiciary’s integrity or manipulate the outcome of the case.
