The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and all relevant security agencies to investigate and make public their findings on the rumored visit of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola to the United Kingdom for medical reasons and the allegation that it was in disguise to meet with President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in London.
In a statement by its Secretary General, Willy Ezugwu, CNPP said this had become necessary to preserve the integrity of the judiciary.
The CJN was reported to have been sighted in London, United Kingdom, pretending to be a physically-challenged old man, for a secret meeting with the President-elect.
The CNPP noted that despite the denials of the plans to hold such meetings by the two personalities, the integrity of both the chief judicial personality in Nigeria and that of the President-elect had been called to question, especially in view of the widespread criticisms of the Supreme Court’s rulings on political matters since the 2023 general elections.
“The Supreme Court under the current leadership has given several verdicts on political litigations in recent times which put the integrity of the apex court to question before this very damaging report by an online news portal on the alleged planned meeting between the CJN and the President-elect in London.
“Allowing the matter to slide without a public inquiry will be a recipe for breach of national security in the event that the Supreme Court rulings fail to favour some parties in election litigations currently before various election petition tribunals, especially the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal under the direct jurisdiction of the CJN.
“The CNPP, therefore, calls on President Muhammadu Buhari, security agencies, and all relevant stakeholders to institute an open investigation into the reported planned meeting between CJN Ariwoola and President-elect Tinubu to lay to rest the controversy in the interest of justice and national security.
“This is imperative as the level of distrust, religious and tribal colourations permeating topics among supporters of different political camps in the country, especially now that the most damaging allegation on the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary became a media affair, should be taken very seriously to avoid a national catastrophe.
“It is also of national importance to ensure that the matter is openly investigated and the report made public as most Nigerian politicians and citizens who are aggrieved by the outcome of the 2023 general elections as conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC may resort to self-help in the event of perceived biases in the judicial pronouncements on the outcome by the tribunals.
“The CNPP then urges politicians to caution their supporters on the use of ethnicity and religion as campaign tools. Ethnic profiling is dangerous to the peace and unity of the country and must be stopped.
“We, therefore, call on security agencies to ensure that all persons who were involved in inciting comments before, during, and after the 2023 general elections are prosecuted to serve as deterrence to others, otherwise the individuals and groups will remain bad examples and reference cases shortly”, the CNPP warned.
