Supreme Court Justices Still Under US Visa Ban Over Uzodimma-Ihedioha Ruling – Abba-Aji

A retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, has disclosed that members of the apex court panel that delivered the controversial 2019 Imo State governorship election judgment were placed under a United States visa ban, which she says remains in force.

Justice Abba-Aji made the disclosure on Friday during a valedictory session organised in honour of her retirement from the Supreme Court, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.

She said the visa restrictions followed a judgment that was widely misinterpreted, describing the development as one of the difficult experiences she encountered during her time on the bench.

According to her, the decision presented an opportunity to demonstrate commitment to justice, irrespective of the consequences.

Although she did not specifically identify the judgment, the development is linked to the Supreme Court’s January 14, 2020 ruling that removed former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, and declared Senator Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress winner of the 2019 governorship election.

In the controversial judgment, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, overturned the earlier decisions of the Imo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which had upheld Ihedioha’s election.

The apex court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw Ihedioha’s Certificate of Return and issue a fresh one to Uzodimma.

The decision followed the inclusion of results from 388 polling units, amounting to 213,295 votes, which were tendered before the election tribunal by a police officer but had reportedly been disowned by INEC.

The judgment generated widespread controversy, with critics questioning the legal basis for the inclusion of the disputed votes.

Ihedioha subsequently sought a review of the judgment, arguing that it occasioned a miscarriage of justice, but the Supreme Court dismissed his application.

One member of the original panel, Justice Centus Nweze, had dissented, maintaining that Ihedioha’s removal was a nullity and ordering his reinstatement.

Justice Nweze also warned that the decision would have lasting consequences for Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence.

Speaking at Friday’s valedictory session, Justice Abba-Aji maintained that the visa restrictions were among the inconveniences she endured in the course of her judicial service.

She, however, described the experience as a small price to pay for what she considered the preservation of the integrity of justice.