Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, a retired member of the Supreme Court, detailed on Friday the difficulties she encountered while serving on the bench and presiding over various legal cases.
The apex court jurist also revealed how a travel ban imposed on her and other members of a panel she had served in the past remains a challenging experience for her.
Abba-Aji made these revelations at the Supreme Complex during a Valedictory Court session that was held in her honour.
Daily Trust reports that the United States of America had a few years ago imposed a travel ban on some Nigerian politicians and judges over some judicial pronouncement.
Speaking at the session, Abba-Aji explained that her time on the Supreme Court bench was filled with challenges, saying some of them were additional opportunities to stand firm.
“In 2016, while on a programme at Washington DC in the United States of America, I received a call from Hon. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa (Rtd) GCON, the then President of the Court of Appeal.
“She informed me that she had received a petition from the EFCC, through the office of the then CJN, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed GCON that I needed to go to Lagos to respond to certain allegations.
“My Lords, I did not grasp the weight of what was coming until I became a regular visitor at the EFCC office in Lagos, answering questions about allegations of corruption I knew nothing about,” she narrated.
She added that although she was exonerated of all allegations, it was a chaotic and very difficult time for her because she couldn’t defend herself publicly due to the conservative nature of her office.
“After all the investigations, I was exonerated of all allegations. Nonetheless, it was a chaotic and very difficult time. Slanders had filled the air, and because of the conservative nature of our office, I could not speak in my own defence in public.
“All I could do was turn to Allah. This clearance made my ascension to the Supreme Court possible. Indeed, in every trial, there is a hidden blessing,” Abba-Aji explained.
She lamented that the travel ban imposed on her and other members of the panel by the US still holds till today, describing it as a small price to pay to preserve the chastity of Justice.
“My time on the Supreme Court bench was also 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 judgements 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.
“Such inconveniences were a small price to pay to preserve the chastity of Justice,” the Yobe State-born jurist further narrated.
Earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun said there were some judicial careers that can be adequately described by the offices held and the years spent in service.
According to her, there are others whose significance goes beyond the positions occupied, while calling on the retiring justice to continue to teach, mentor and serve the country.
Justice Abba-Aji was born in Gashua, Yobe State, on November 7, 1956. She obtained a Diploma in Law and subsequently a Bachelor of Laws degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, before she was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981.
As far back as 1973, she had entered judicial service in Borno State, serving in various administrative capacities as a Clerical Assistant, Assistant Registrar, Acting Registrar and Higher Registrar.
What You Should Know
This story provides a rare glimpse into the personal and professional struggles of high-ranking Nigerian judges. Justice Abba-Aji revealed that despite being exonerated of corruption allegations by the EFCC in 2016, she and her colleagues still face a travel ban from the United States due to a past judicial ruling.
- Positive Impact: Her eventual clearance from EFCC investigations allowed her to reach the highest court in the land, demonstrating that the judicial promotion system can withstand false allegations after proper scrutiny.
- Potential Concerns: The persistent US travel ban highlights the international consequences and diplomatic pressure Nigerian judges may face over their official rulings, which could affect the perceived independence of the judiciary.
