FACT CHECK: Did Tinubu Budget N35bn Palliatives For Judges? President Bola Ahmed Tinubu agreed to provide N35 billion out of the N500 billio...

FACT CHECK: Did Tinubu Budget N35bn Palliatives For Judges?

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu agreed to provide N35 billion out of the N500 billion approved by Twitter user @redcap_blondie on her handle.

According to a tweet by @redcap_blondie, members of the National Judicial Council (NJC), which is presided over by Chief Justice of the Federation (CJF) Justice Kayode Ariwoola, will receive N35 billion from the N500 billion approved by the National Assembly for palliatives. This was a promise made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The action is intended to persuade the judges to rule in favor of the President in the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, claims the Twitter user.

"The N35 billion that Bola Tinubu gave to NJC is outright bribery!

"Bola Tinubu has pledged to give Nigerians N500 billion as a consolation. From this sum, the National Judicial Council (NJC) will receive N35 billion.

Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, is in charge of the NJC. The N35 billion should be used in a way that only Justice Ariwoola could. It's probable that it will be given to the Supreme Court's justices, which could sway their judgments in favor of a rerun rather than disqualification, particularly with reference to the Presidential Election Petition.Regarding the N8,000 distributed to families for a period of six months from the N500 billion, it can be considered a method of purchasing votes in advance of a runoff.

"Bola Tinubu is unquestionably a crook and a political strategist."

On social media, the post has received thousands of comments.

It got 317k views, 4,617 likes, over 3,000 comments, and 119 quotations as of the time of this post.

Verification

Although the federal government approved the disbursement of N500 billion to poor Nigerians as palliatives, checks by Daily Trust reveal that there was no N35 billion included as palliatives for members of the NJC.

Although the federal government approved the disbursement of N500 billion to poor Nigerians as palliatives, checks by Daily Trust reveal that there was no N35 billion included as palliatives for members of the NJC.

According to the federal government, 12 million poor and low-income households will each receive N8,000 per month for a period of six months from the N500 billion.

The money would be transferred straight to the accounts of those designated beneficiaries, the President had stated in a letter to the National Assembly.

According to Daily Trust, the former president Muhammadu Buhari's administration obtained the $800 million loan from the World Bank for the National Social Safety Net initiative.

According to the federal government, the funds are intended to help the poor and vulnerable Nigerians manage their basic needs while reducing the impact of the loss of fuel subsidies.

Conclusion: False

Background

One of the federal executive bodies established by the 1999 Constitution is the National Judicial Council.

It is in charge of, among other things, appointing, elevating, and disciplining judicial officers.

The NJC also handles a number of judicial tasks. They primarily serve as advisors to the President and governors on matters pertaining to the judiciary.

By virtue of holding the office of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola serves as the NJC's chairman.

Judges of the supreme court who serve on the presidential election petition panel include several NJC members.

judicial Haruna Tsammani presides over the five-member judicial panel.

Atiku Abubakar, a candidate for the People's Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi, a candidate for the Labour Party, are contesting Tinubu's election victory.

In August, the panel is anticipated to issue its ruling.

Conclusion

The assertion is untrue because investigations by Daily Trust reveal that the N500 billion allocated by the National Assembly for palliatives is to be distributed under the federal government's safety net program for the nation's impoverished and most vulnerable citizens, not for judges and judicial personnel.

In collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), this Fact Check was created.