US Travel Ban on Supreme Court Justices Followed Misinterpreted Judgment – Abba Aji

Retiring Supreme Court Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji has disclosed that a United States travel ban imposed on seven members of an apex court panel followed what she described as a misinterpretation of a judgment delivered by the justices.

Abba Aji made the revelation on Friday during a valedictory court session held in her honour in Abuja, where she reflected on some of the challenges she encountered during her judicial career.

According to the retiring justice, the travel restrictions imposed on all seven members of the panel remain in force.

She described the experience as one of the difficult moments of her time on the Supreme Court bench but maintained that judicial officers must remain committed to delivering justice regardless of the consequences.

“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,” she said.

The retiring justice also recalled an experience in 2016 when she was attending a programme in Washington, DC, and received a call informing her that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wanted her to respond to a petition against her in Lagos.

She said the petition made her a regular visitor to the EFCC office, where she answered questions concerning corruption allegations she maintained she knew nothing about.

Abba Aji stated that she was eventually cleared of the allegations after investigations, although the experience was difficult and damaging to her reputation.

She added that the conservative nature of the judiciary prevented her from publicly defending herself while allegations and criticism circulated.

The retiring justice urged younger judges to uphold integrity and make justice their guiding principle. She also advised serving judicial officers to discharge their responsibilities with humility and courage, reminding them that the law was not merely a profession but a position of trust.

Earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, congratulated Abba Aji on her service to the judiciary, describing her career as significant to the country and to women pursuing careers on the Bench.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, also commended the retiring justice. He credited her with a judgment that, according to him, led to the establishment of the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

Abba Aji is scheduled to retire from the Supreme Court on November 7, 2026, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70.