The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, has urged Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, and security operatives to look into the alleged visit of Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria to the United Kingdom where he allegedly had a secret meeting with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the ‘President-elect’.
The group made this known in a press release by Chief Willy Ezugwu, Its Secretary-General.
Ezugwu noted that investigation into the trip was necessary in order to protect the integrity of the apex court, adding that the court under the watch of Ariwoola had delivered several questionable judgements.
CNPP insisted that sweeping such allegation under the carpet was 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”.
The group said the allegation ought to be taken seriously at the moment when there’s serious doubt about the credibility of the judiciary, and to prevent negative actions from aggrieved persons which may ensue perceived judicial biases in rulings concerning the outcome of the controversial 2023 general elections as conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
CNPP further warned politcians to desist from weaponising tribalism and religion during electioneering campaigns, calling on law enforcement agencies to make sure it brought to justice all politicians who were complicit in making inciting utterances.
According to the group: “the integrity of both the chief judicial personality in Nigeria and that of the President-Elect have been called to question, especially in view of the widespread criticisms of the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s rulings on political matters since the 2023 general elections”.
It also added, “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 a deterrent to others, otherwise the individuals and groups will remain bad examples and reference cases in the near future,” CNPP further warned
