A retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji, has disclosed that the travel ban imposed on a seven-member panel of the apex court by the United States government stemmed from a misinterpretation of a judgment.
Speaking on Friday in Abuja at a valedictory session held in her honour, the Yobe-born jurist explained that the ban remains in effect to this day. She, however, described it as part of the occupational hazards and a “small price to pay” by judicial officers to preserve the sanctity of justice.
Justice Abba Aji will formally bow out on November 7 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Reflecting on her years on the bench, she said, “My time on the Supreme Court bench was filled with challenges, some of which have served as additional opportunities to stand firm on the side of justice, regardless of the consequences.”
“One such challenging judgment was widely misinterpreted and led to a travel ban to the United States of America being imposed on all members of the panel—a ban which still holds today.”
The retiring justice also recounted an incident in 2016 while attending a program in Washington, D.C., when she received a call directing her to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a petition filed against her in Lagos.
She said the petition made her a regular visitor to the anti-graft agency’s office to answer corruption allegations she knew nothing about. Although she was eventually exonerated, she noted that the ordeal was chaotic and deeply distressing, compounded by the fact that the conservative nature of the judiciary barred her from speaking out in her own defense.
Addressing younger judges, Justice Abba Aji urged them to maintain their integrity and let justice guide them. She advised serving judges to serve with humility and courage, remembering that the law is a public trust.
In her remarks, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who presided over the session, congratulated Justice Abba Aji for her diligent service and for leaving the bench with an unblemished record. The CJN noted that her career stands as an inspiration to the nation and to women following in her footsteps.
Also speaking, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, commended Justice Abba Aji for her past rulings that supported the establishment of the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), which he noted have bolstered the government’s anti-corruption efforts.
