Agency report

The United States Government has reportedly denied seven Supreme Court Justices visas to attend a judges’ conference in the country.

Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke made the claim while delivering a keynote address at the launch of the memoir of a retired judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Charles Archibong.
Duke said the apex court justices were denied visas because of their judgement that declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Imo State governor.
The former governor claimed that the United States Embassy in Nigeria denied the apex court justices visa due to the miscarriage of justice that occurred in the case.
Duke, however, revealed that the aides who applied alongside the justices were all granted US visas.

Recall that a seven-member panel of the apex court in a unanimous judgement read by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun held that results in 388 polling units were unlawfully excluded during the collation of the final governorship election result in Imo State.
The names of other justices on the panel are Justice Tanko Muhammad, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, Justice Amiru Sanusi, Justice Amina Augie, and Justice Uwanimusa Abba Aji.
Speaking further, Duke said the US government will also deny the current justices of the apex court following their ruling on the Yobe North Senatorial ticket tussle.
He said, “Apart from the recent cases, there is another one where number four became number one, the justices that gave that judgment cannot go to the United States today because they have been denied visas.
“They want to go on a retreat. Their aides were given visas but they were not given. How much disgrace can we take as a nation before we say enough is enough?
“I am sure this current set will also be denied visas because it is ridiculous, you did not partake in a process but they found a way to dismiss the case procedurally.”