CJN travelled to London for medicals, didn’t meet Tinubu – Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has denied reports that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, was scheduled to meet with Bola Tinubu, Nigeria president-elect in London.

The reports had alleged that the CJN secretly travelled to London and was due to meet Tinubu.

However, debunking the reports on Friday, the Supreme Court’s spokesperson, Festus Akande, said the reports were false.

He said though the CJN travelled out of the country, he was out for medical care not for meeting with the president-elect.

“The CJN has been in Nigeria, and presided over meetings of the National Judicial Council (NJC) held on 16 and 17 March,” Akande told Premium Times.

Akande explained that the CJN only travelled out of Nigeria briefly to London on 18 March for medical care.

According to him, the CJN was accompanied by NJC’s Secretary, Gambo Saleh.

“On 23 March, 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.

He added, “The only time the CJN travelled earlier this year was on 25 January, when he travelled for Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia. He returned on 29 January 2023.”