Alleged meeting with Tinubu: 'Yes, CJN Ariwoola travelled to London' - Supreme Court reveals

There were speculations that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, and President-elect Bola Tinubu held a secret meeting in London recently.

As a result, the Supreme Court has debunked the speculations that Mr Ariwoola met with Tinubu in the UK.

Spokesperson for the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande, said that the allegations are false.

Speaking in an interview with ThisDay, on Friday, March 24, Akande noted that Ariwoola has been in Nigeria, and presided over meetings of the National Judicial Council (NJC) held on 16 and 17 March.

He although said that the CJN alongside NJC’s secretary, Gambo Saleh, travelled to London on 18 March for medical care, a trip. Adding that President Muhammadu Buhari is also aware of the trip.

He said: “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."

According to Akande, the only time the CJN took a trip outside Nigeria was on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. when he travelled for Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia and returned on Sunday, January 29.

The spokesman said that there is no connection between Ariwoola's trip and Tinubu’s ‘vacation’ trip.