A retiring Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, has disclosed that members of a seven-man panel of the apex court were placed under a United States visa restriction following a controversial judgment that overturned the outcome of the 2019 Imo State governorship election.

Justice Abba-Aji made the revelation during a valedictory session held in her honour ahead of her retirement from the Supreme Court.

She explained that the US travel restriction followed a judgment that she believed had been widely misinterpreted, adding that the restriction remained in force.

Recounting the challenges she encountered during her judicial career, the retiring jurist said she had faced difficult situations that tested her commitment to delivering 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,” she stated.

Although Justice Abba-Aji did not expressly identify the judgment, reports linked her remarks to the Supreme Court’s January 14, 2020, decision that removed Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Imo State governor and declared Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the 2019 governorship election.

The seven-member panel, which included Justice Abba-Aji and the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, overturned earlier decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Imo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which had upheld Ihedioha’s victory.

In the lead judgment, the Supreme Court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Ihedioha’s Certificate of Return and issue a fresh one to Uzodimma.

The decision attracted widespread public debate, particularly over the inclusion of results from 388 polling units, amounting to 213,295 votes, which were presented during the election tribunal proceedings.

Ihedioha subsequently sought a review of the Supreme Court judgment, arguing that it had occasioned a miscarriage of justice. However, the apex court rejected his application.

Justice Abba-Aji described the consequences she faced as part of the challenges associated with her judicial service, maintaining that the inconveniences were a small price to pay for upholding the integrity of justice.

“Such inconveniences were a small price to pay to preserve the chastity of justice,” she added.

Her disclosure has renewed attention on the international implications of judicial decisions and the controversy surrounding the 2020 Imo governorship judgment.

However, the specific legal basis for the reported US visa restrictions and the official position of the American government were not established in her public remarks.

Justice Abba-Aji is retiring upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70, bringing her career at the Supreme Court to a close.

Retiring Supreme Court Justice Uwani AbbaAji reveals that members of the panel behind the 2020 Imo governorship judgment remain under a reported US travel ban.