Nigeria's Chief Justice, Olukayode Ariwoola, allegedly sneaked back into the country on the early hours of Friday following a recent report by the Peoples Gazette, which claimed the CJN had disguised himself to sneak out of the country for an arranged meeting with Bola Tinubu in the United Kingdom.
According to the Peoples Gazette, Mr Ariwoola who departed Nigeria on March 11 via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was pushed in a wheelchair through the terminals to board a British Airways flight. And upon arrival in London, the 64 year old was also wheeled into a hotel downtown, where he has remained ever since.
The reported however, also added that immediately after checking into the hotel, Mr Ariwoola abandoned his wheelchair and started moving around the facility unaided.
It is believed that the CJN's decision to travel earlier was to avoid suspicion that his trip has anything to do with Tinubu.
“The CJN deliberately left the country more than a week ahead of Tinubu to avoid any suspicion about why both of them disappeared at once,” a source familiar said. “That is why he travelled secretly and Tinubu also travelled secretly.”
However, following the outrage by Nigerians who see the development as a threat to the Labour Party candidate's effort to retrieve his mandate through the court, Ariwoola was pressured to sneak back into the country in a cover-up attempt.
Jackson Ude of PBN, wrote that Justice Ariwoola in fact, flew back into the country from Luton Airport, UK.
Festus Akande, Spokesman of the CJN said Justice Ariwoola left Nigeria on March 18 to London for medical care
— Jackson Ude (@jacksonpbn) March 24, 2023
“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.” LIES.
Ariwoola sneaked into… pic.twitter.com/N2f2mAlj3u
He wrote, "Festus Akande, Spokesman of the CJN said Justice Ariwoola left Nigeria on March 18 to London for medical care “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.” LIES."
"Ariwoola sneaked into Nigeria early morning of Friday after he was bursted. He flew from Luton Airport, UK," he added.