The Supreme Court of Nigeria dismissed rumors on Friday that Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola secretly met with President-elect Bola Tinubu in London. Various reports had claimed that Ariwoola disguised himself in a wheelchair and traveled to London for the meeting.
Supreme Court spokesperson Festus Akande refuted these claims, stating that Ariwoola’s trip was for medical reasons and not for any meeting with the president-elect. Akande confirmed to Premium Times that the Chief Justice had been in Nigeria, presiding over National Judicial Council (NJC) meetings on March 16 and 17.
Akande elaborated that Ariwoola only left Nigeria for London on March 18 to seek medical care, accompanied by NJC Secretary Gambo Saleh. The Chief Justice returned from London on March 23 and resumed work at his office in Abuja, where he remained until 8 p.m.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Kayode Ariwoola leaving the Supreme Court for the Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque, Abuja, to observe his prayers today.
This is coming in the wake of speculations that he is in London to meet president-elect Bola Tinubu. pic.twitter.com/MqfTBvCt1C
— Channels Television (@channelstv) March 24, 2023
Furthermore, Akande clarified that Ariwoola’s only other trip this year occurred on January 25 when he traveled to Saudi Arabia for Lesser Hajj, returning on January 29, 2023.
On Friday, photos of the Chief Justice appeared online, showing him dressed in Ankara print and a matching cap. Ariwoola was reportedly attending Jumat prayers in Abuja.
