A retiring Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, revealed on Friday, November 6, 2026, that members of a seven-justice panel of the apex court were placed on a travel visa ban by the United States of America due to a widely misinterpreted judgment.
​Justice Abba-Aji made the disclosure during a valedictory court session held in her honour at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja ahead of her 70th birthday and mandatory retirement from the bench.
​Addressing members of the bench, bar, and public officials gathered during the morning proceedings, Justice Abba-Aji reflected on her tenure and addressed the controversial US visa ban, which she confirmed remains active.
​”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.”
​She noted that the visa ban was part of the inconveniences and a small price to pay by judicial officers to preserve the chastity of justice.
​While Justice Abba-Aji did not name the specific legal matter during her address, the restriction is widely linked to the controversial 2020 judgment involving the 2019 Imo State governorship election legal tussle handled by a seven-member panel.
​During the valedictory session, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) delivered remarks commending Justice Abba-Aji’s contributions to the judiciary.
The CJN highlighted her judicial courage and legacy as a trailblazer, noting that she helped create a space in which other women could find their voices and assume positions of leadership within the Nigerian judiciary.
