Shock Revelation: Seven Nigerian Supreme Court Justices Still Under US Travel Ban

A retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Uwani Musa Abba Aji, has disclosed that the United States government imposed a travel ban on seven Nigerian Supreme Court justices following a controversial judgment delivered by the apex court.

Justice Aji made the revelation on Friday during a valedictory court session held in her honour in Abuja to mark her retirement after attaining the mandatory age of 70.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the retired justice linked the restriction to a Supreme Court ruling that she said had been widely misinterpreted. However, she did not disclose the specific judgment or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the alleged US travel ban.

Aji confirmed that the restriction remained in force, describing it as one of the sacrifices judicial officers sometimes have to make in the course of carrying out their official responsibilities and protecting the integrity of the justice system.

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

Reflecting on her years on the Supreme Court bench, she explained that her judicial career was marked by several difficult moments that tested her commitment to justice, adding that she remained determined to uphold the law despite the consequences.

She stated, “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 the members of the panel, a ban which still stands till today.”

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

According to her, the petition resulted in several visits to the commission’s office, where she was questioned over corruption allegations she said she knew nothing about. She disclosed that she was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing but described the experience as a difficult period in her career.

Aji used the occasion to urge younger judicial officers to maintain high ethical standards, uphold integrity and remain committed to fairness in the discharge of their duties.

She advised serving judges to approach their responsibilities with humility and courage, stressing that the law should be treated not merely as a profession but as a position of public trust.