₦airaland Forum

A retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji has revealed that the travel ban imposed on a seven member panel of the apex court by the United States of America (USA) was occasioned by misinterpretation of a judgment delivered by the justices.

The Yobe born apex court justice who made the revelation on Friday in Abuja explained that, the travel ban to the United States of America is still subsisting against the justices till today.

Justice Abba Aji who spoke on the occasion of a valedictory Supreme Court session held in her honour however, noted that, the ban was part of inconveniences and a small price to pay by judicial officers to preserve the chastity of justice.

Abba Aji is to formally bow out of the Supreme Court on November 7 upon attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.

Recalling her experience while 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 of such challenging judgments 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”.

Justice Abba Aji also recalled the year 2016 while on a programme at Washington DC in the USA, she received a call that her attention was needed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a petition against her in Lagos.

She explained that the petition made her a regular visitor at the EFCC office answering questions on allegations of corruption she knew nothing about adding that, at the end of the investigations, she was exonorated from all the allegations.

Despite the exonoration, she said that, the situation was chaotic and made a very difficult time for her as slanders had filled the air, adding that to worsen the situation, she could not speak in her own defense in public because of the conservative nature of the judiciary.

Although, Justice Abba Aji did not disclose the judgment that attracted the US travel ban on her panel members, she however said, “Such inconveniences were a price to pay to preserve the chastity of justice”.

The retiring apex court justice, charged younger generation of judges to hold fast to integrity and let justice be their compass.

Specifically, she counseled serving judges to serve with humility and courage and to always remember that the law is not merely a profession but a trust.

Earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who presided over the special court session congratulated Justice Abba Aji for diligent service to the country’s judiciary and for leaving the Supreme Court bench with unblemish record of service.

The CJN said that, the carreer of Justice Abba Aji in the judiciary and the legal profession was so important to the nation and women who have followed her example on the Bench.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN commended Justice Abba Aji for her judgment that led to the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), which according to him had, assisted Nigerian government in combating corruption.

https://guardian.ng/news/us-travel-ban-stems-from-misinterpreted-judgment-retiring-supreme-court-justice-reveals/


Justice Uwani was born on 7th November 1956 and hails from Yobe State. She is only the 7th woman to climb to the Supreme Court after Justices Mukhtar, Adekeye, Mary Odili, Ogunbiyi, Kekere-Ekun and Augie.

She was enrolled to the Nigerian bar on 26th June 1981 and elevated to the Appeal Court on 22nd September 2004. She presided over the Ekiti, Owerri and Kaduna Appeal Divisions a was further elevated to the Supreme Court on 8th January 2019.

She has been a member of some of the panels that held decisions that were controversial.

A member of the Presidential election tribunal that affirmed Yar'Adua's election in 2007 at the Appeal Court level.

She was also a member of the Supreme Court panel that sacked Emeka Ihedioha as Imo state Governor.

Also a member of the Supreme Court panel that sacked all the Zamfara APC executive and legislative members in 2019.

Also a member of the Supreme Court panel who ruled that the hijab ban in Lagos schools was discriminatory and unconstitutional.

She was a member of the panel that ruled on the Rivers House of Assembly/Fubara political impasse.

She was a member of the Supreme Court panel that affirmed Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Presidency in 2023.

There should be a travel ban on all Nigeria national and state politicians (including their immediate family members)

Anyone who owns property abroad without a business with a published revenue should be on a travel ban

Ban them from the places they visit for medical tourism and send their kids to school

The Bayelsa judgement and the Imo state judgement. The Bayelsa judgement was so bad the Supreme Court had to depart from it immediately.

I want to disagree with you but I have no comments

seunmsg:
The Bayelsa judgement and the Imo state judgement. The Bayelsa judgement was so bad the Supreme Court had to depart from it immediately.

seunmsg:
The Bayelsa judgement and the Imo state judgement. The Bayelsa judgement was so bad the Supreme Court had to depart from it immediately.

She was not a member of the Supreme Court panel that sacked David Lyon in Bayelsa.

For Bayelsa....these are their names.
Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili – Presiding Justice.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Justice John Inyang Okoro.
Justice Amina Adamu Augie.
Justice Ejembi Eko

slivertongue:
Fergie001 should be included in that list.

A friend of a corrupt judge is also...

Wetin I do again?
Abeg, Trump no mind am oooo

Dalohad:
It was mainly the Imo State Guber Judgement that made Uzodinma governor after coming 4th in the election.

That case was so brazenly shocking that even the US were mortified.

This judge was not part of the Bayelsa judgement.

He was part of the atricious Imo Judgement.

The list of the 7 justices that made Uzodinma the Supreme-Court Appointed Governor are;

• Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad (the then Chief Justice of Nigeria and panel leader)
• Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta
• Justice Olukayode Ariwoola
• Justice Amiru Sanusi
• Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun
• Justice Amina Adamu Augie
• Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji

Ngwuta died one month to his retirement in March 2021.

seunmsg:
The Bayelsa judgement and the Imo state judgement. The Bayelsa judgement was so bad the Supreme Court had to depart from it immediately.

It was mainly the Imo State Guber Judgement that made Uzodinma governor after coming 4th in the election.

That case was so brazenly shocking that even the US were mortified.

This judge was not part of the Bayelsa judgement.

He was part of the atricious Imo Judgement.

The list of the 7 justices that made Uzodinma the Supreme-Court Appointed Governor are;

• Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad (the then Chief Justice of Nigeria and panel leader)
• Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta
• Justice Olukayode Ariwoola
• Justice Amiru Sanusi
• Justice Amina Adamu Augie
• Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji
• Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun

That terrible judgment snatched the mandate of Imo people and gave it to Uzodinma.

Till date, the once peaceful Imo has never remained the same. Killings, murder and arson became the order of the day and turned Imo upside down with thousands of lives lost..

I hold these judges responsible for the loss of lives..

The same way we will hold Amupitan responsible for the violence that may erupt if he rigs the next election wil be out of this world..

They are all banned from the US, together with their dependants.

And so shall it be forever.

They should have even add your children and grand children to the fourth generation

That is usa punishment. very soon you go collect the wan that will send u to gra ve
corrupt justice

MEGA4BILLION:
And so shall it be forever.

They should have even add your children and grand children to the fourth generation

Their relations and children are also affected.

When the US wants to bring the hammer on Judicial bandits, they go wholesale.

Na Wike and his judicial goons remain.

Good! Honest confession! More of you will still go up on that list. Guess you lots are busy colluding with the executive and NASS to sabotage electoral, democratic and constitutional processes.

Imagine Nyesom Wike building houses for the arbiters of justice and you expect sound criminal justice system in Nigeria.You lots still have karma and God to contend with.

slivertongue:
Fergie001 should be included in that list.

A friend of a corrupt judge is also...

Bitter Obidient, make we hear word jare .

Dalohad:
Their relations and children are also affected.

When the US wants to bring the hammer on Judicial bandits, they go wholesale.

Na Wike and his judicial goons remain.

Sorry, but Nyesom Wike & his family hold American passports.

MEGA4BILLION:
And so shall it be forever.

They should have even add your children and grand children to the fourth generation

Bad belle no joy misery .

favor914:
Sorry, but Nyesom Wike & his family hold American passports.

So whose money was used to acquire the passports while you were breaking palm kernel to have a peace to eat in Ogbomosho?

givedemwotowoto:
There should be a travel ban on all Nigeria national and state politicians (including their immediate family members)

Anyone who owns property abroad without a business with a published revenue should be on a travel ban.Ban them from the places they visit for medical tourism and send their kids to school

Straight up sir. Trust Peter Obi, this rotten haven and desecreted temple of justice is one of the first place he will bring radical reforms when he comes in.

You have written your name in infamy.

You and your colleagues delivered an atrocious judgment in which a candidate who came a distant fourth in an election approached the court with fictitious results conjured up in his bedroom and you declared him the winner.

That was not justice; it was a travesty of justice of historic proportions.

A judgment that controversial will forever remain a stain on the credibility of the judiciary and a painful reminder of what happens when justice is reduced to judicial gymnastics.

The ozuor wants to enter AMELIKA badly.

You collect bribe and instill rubbish judgements and you come here to lament, not being able to visit Amelika?

Go to YOBE and Dubai.

Tinubu that bribes you hasn't visited Amelika and you a common Judge wan enter

Rubbish

Dalohad:
So whose money was used to acquire the passports while you were breaking palm kernel to have a peace to eat in Ogbomosho?

Definitely not your money .

Racoon:
Straight up sir. Trust Peter Obi, this rotten haven and Desecreted temple of justice is one of the first place he will bring radical reforms when he comes in.

Exactly 💯

Forfeiture means different things in Nigeria, especiallywhen the compromised Bench is involved.

Just like the 25% mandatory score in FCT, that they used OLANIKPEKUN and their appointed Judges to jettision and say it was irrelevant.

Just like Omotosho and lifu, very shameless people.

Racoon:
Straight up sir. Trust Peter Obi, this rotten haven and Desecreted temple of justice is one of the first place he will bring radical reforms when he comes in.

Peter Lifu should be banned in all civilized society.

Validated:
Peter Lifu should be banned in all civilized society.

.
Cry well well

Bobloco:
You have written your name in infamy.

You and your colleagues delivered an atrocious judgment in which a candidate who came a distant fourth in an election approached the court with fictitious results conjured up in his bedroom and you declared him the winner.

That was not justice; it was a travesty of justice of historic proportions.

A judgment that controversial will forever remain a stain on the credibility of the judiciary and a painful reminder of what happens when justice is reduced to judicial gymnastics.

Roberto Carlos your ignorance should be pardoned as a Commoner for purporting to question the proclamation of The Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Validated:
Peter Lifu should be banned in all civilized society.

Bitterness ban for the disqualification of Abubakar Malu Atiku abi .

Find another line of thought because your comment is very shallow.

favor914:
Bitter Obidient, make we hear word jare .

slivertongue:
Find another line of thought because your comment is very shallow.

Hahaha, Bitter Obidient make we hear word jare.

Are your empty of contents that you can't engage in vertical discourse? Your submission is stale and I don't do stale

favor914:
Hahaha, Bitter Obidient make we hear word jare.

slivertongue:
Are your empty of contents that you can't engage in vertical discourse? Your submission is stale and I don't do stale

Very Bitter Obidient. Tufiakwa.

Stale stale stale stale

favor914:
Very Bitter Obidient. Tufiakwa.

slivertongue:
Stale stale stale stale

Enjoy 😉.