ABUJA, Nigeria – Seven members of Nigeria’s Supreme Court, including Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, have been issued visa bans by the United States government following their delivery of controversial and inciting judgments, according to a report by U.S.-based Pointblank News.
The report, citing a highly-placed source, disclosed on Friday, July 14, 2023, the identities of other banned justices as Musa Dattijo Mohammed, Centus Nweze, and Kudirat Kekere Ekun.
The visa ban is believed to be connected to several disputed judgments the justices delivered, including the contentious decision that declared Senator Hope Uzodinma governor of Imo State in 2020, despite placing fourth in the 2019 election.
Similar controversial decisions recognised Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his predecessor Senator Ahmed Lawan as victors in their respective senatorial elections.
The justices ruled in separate judgments that both senators, who did not participate in the All Progressives Congress’ primary elections due to their presidential aspirations, were nonetheless the party’s senatorial candidates.
These rulings overturned the mandates of Bashir Machina and Udom Ekpoudom, who had emerged as senatorial candidates from Yobe North and Akwa Ibom North West, respectively, and whose candidacies had been upheld by the High and Appeal courts.
The banned justices became aware of their inability to enter the U.S. when they were denied entry to attend a seminar.
A senior Supreme Court official, who chose to remain anonymous, revealed to Pointblank News that Justice Ekun was the first to learn of her visa ban.
“The ban has become a burden on the Justices of the Supreme Court,” the source stated, adding that the U.K and European Union are also considering similar actions at the U.S.’s request.
The controversial cases involving Uzodinma, Akpabio, and Lawan, as well as other cases, were deemed to “be against democracy and rule of law,” according to the source.
In January 2020, the Supreme Court under Justice Kekere-Ekun voided the election of Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party as the governor of Imo State, declaring Uzodinma the rightful winner.
In February 2023, the court, led by Centus Nweze, also controversially declared Senate President Ahmad Lawan the authentic candidate of the APC for Yobe North Senatorial District and former Akwa-Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, the legitimate candidate for Akwa-Ibom North-West senatorial seat.
Now under intense scrutiny, these rulings have further strained the relationship between the United States and Nigeria, a key strategic partner in Africa.
