Honourable Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji of the Supreme Court attains the obligatory retirement age of 70 on 7 November, 2026, bringing to a detailed a outstanding judicial profession that started greater than 5 a long time in the past as a clerical assistant in an Area Court. In this tribute, Olanrewaju Akinsola, SAN (The Onigegewura), displays on Her Lordship’s journey from the bottom rungs of the Judiciary to the Apex Court, her pioneering function as the primary feminine Judge of the Yobe State High Court, and her unwavering dedication to substantive justice over naked technicality. As a proud member of the distinguished Nigerian Law School Class of 1981, Justice Abba Aji’s legacy stands as a testomony to excellence, integrity, and the enduring rules of the rule of legislation
Introduction
This week, the Honourable Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji will take her remaining bow as a Justice of the Supreme Court, upon attaining the obligatory retirement age of 70. His Lordship’s exit from the Apex Court marks the excessive level of an eventful authorized and judicial profession, spanning greater than 5 a long time – from the bottom rung as a clerical assistant in an Area Court to the head of the Nigerian Judiciary as a Justice of the Supreme Court.
A Proud Member of Nigerian Law School’s Class of 1981
A proud member of the well-known 1981 Class of the Nigerian Law School, Justice Abba Aji belongs to a set that has constantly set the tempo in Nigeria’s authorized historical past. The Class has produced three Chief Justices of Nigeria: Hon. Justices Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad (2019), Olukayode Ariwoola (2022), and Kudirat Kekere-Ekun (2024), and 7 Justices of the Supreme Court.
It can also be vital that each the present Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Body of Benchers, the physique of authorized practitioners of highest distinction, His Royal Majesty Albert Akpomudje, SAN and Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, are members of this distinguished Class of ’81. The variety of Senior Advocates of Nigeria produced by the identical class, is legion.
Although her formal skilled authorized profession began after she was known as to the Bar in 1981, Justice Abba Aji’s judicial profession predates her name. She had been within the Judiciary since 1973, when she lower her tooth as a clerical assistant in Area Courts Division, and rose by means of the ranks to turn out to be a Higher Registrar.
A Trailblazer
Justice Abba Aji is in some ways a trailblazer. In December 1991, ten years after she was known as to the Bar, she was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Yobe State. His Lordship was one of many pioneer Judges who laid the muse of the Judiciary within the newly created Yobe State, carved out of the previous Borno State. In truth, Justice Abba Aji holds the historic distinction of being the primary feminine Judge, to take a seat on the Bench of the Yobe State High Court.
Substance Over Technicality
After 13 years on the Bench as a trial courtroom Judge, Justice Abba Aji was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2004. At the Court of Appeal, His Lordship’s judicial philosophy absolutely entered the nationwide consciousness. One singular thread that runs by means of her judgements on the penultimate appellate courtroom, was her unyielding constancy to substantive justice and her abhorrence for naked technicality. A Counsel who sought to take refuge in technical argument earlier than a panel presided over by Justice Abba Aji would uncover that, it’s simpler for a camel to move by means of the proverbial eye of the needle, than for him to reach persuading the courtroom.
In the case of Garba v FRN (2014) LPELR-24591(CA) (P. 13, paras. D-F), His Lordship was unequivocal when she held that:
“All the arguments and submissions of the learned counsel are on mere technical justice which reign is over, and even if there is, it is now trite law that this Court would not allow technical justice to defeat substantial justice”.
Justice Abba Aji’s judgements positioned her within the firm of Jurists who uphold the rules of the rule of legislation and the separation of powers, as bedrocks of our democracy. In Gov. Ekiti State & Anor v Akinyemi & Ors (2011) LPELR-4218 (CA), the problem was whether or not the State Government had the facility to dissolve a Local Government Council. Justice Abba Aji didn’t mince phrases in invalidating the motion of the State Government by holding that:
“The 1st Appellant therefore, acted ultra vires his powers. The termination of the Respondents’ appointment in the circumstances in which it was done is null and void and of no effect whatsoever, and the learned trial Judge was right in so holding”.
At the Supreme Court
With her monitor report as an appellate Justice of distinction, the information of her elevation to the Supreme Court as a Justice of the Apex Court in 2019, didn’t come as a shock to stakeholders within the justice sector.
In the Supreme Court, Justice Abba Aji’s repute as an apostle of substantive justice was firmly cemented. She succeeded in carving out a permanent legacy as a Jurist who seamlessly mixed mind and integrity, standing tall as a champion of constitutionalism, federalism, and substantive justice.
Appearing earlier than a panel presided over by Justice Abba Aji was a difficult, but pleasant expertise. Within minutes of a matter being known as, it will turn out to be obvious that His Lordship knew as a lot concerning the case because the Counsel on report. In her agency however quiet voice, His Lordship would ask penetrating questions that might go straight to the guts of the enchantment. She is presented with the power, to separate the wheat from the chaff of authorized submissions.
In Fabunmi v University of Ibadan (2026) 11 NWLR (Pt. 2050) 61, the place the Appellant who was dismissed for demanding sexual gratification from a pupil tried to pull an employment dispute into the realm of constitutional rights, Justice Abba Aji refused to be swayed. In dismissing the enchantment, His Lordship held that:
“Although the Appellant herein attempted to connect this his appeal to breach and infraction of his fundamental rights, he is only trying to pull the wool over the eyes of this court. By the grounds and their particulars in this appeal, none brushes or touches on the question of fundamental rights or fair hearing”.
To Justice Abba Aji, what’s all the time paramount is justice. This was demonstrated in Olugbemi v State (2023) 11 NWLR (Pt. 1895) 359, the place it was argued that the decrease courtroom was incorrect to permit the Respondent to reopen its case after the closure of the Appellant’s case. Justice Abba Aji rejected the inflexible objection and held that “In the interest of justice however, it is sometimes considered. The reopening ought to be to enable the court take, in the interest of justice, important points of law and facts relating to the case. Each case ought to be dealt with on its own merit”.
A Master Linguist
As a author myself, I’m significantly fascinated by the truth that Justice Abba Aji just isn’t solely a Jurist; she can also be a grasp linguist. Her mastery of language, isn’t unsure. She wields phrases in a way that paints vivid, indelible judicial photos. Like a griot weaving oral custom, Justice Abba Aji crafts her judgements with a tapestry of images, proverbs, and metaphors that would comfortably discover a dwelling within the literary texts of African Writers Series.
In Okafor v Central Bank of Nigeria (2025) 7 NWLR (Pt. 1988) 109 she famously employed the imagery of futile effort: “You cannot flog a dead horse, or force the horse to drink water”. In Ajayi v Securities and Exchange Commission (2023) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1881) 533, His Lordship made reference to the proverbial obstinate fly, to drive dwelling her judicial level. In her phrases: “It is often said that, it is only the stubborn fly that follows the corpse to the grave. All the journeys of the Appellant from the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and to the Supreme Court is a wasted and futile one…”. And, in Olugbemi v State, her placing characterisation of the Appellant’s confessional assertion as “a nail to his own coffin”, captured the finality of self-incrimination in a single phrase.
A synoptic tribute similar to this, can’t absolutely chronicle all her landmark judgements. Indeed, no catalogue of circumstances or litany of tributes, can do Justice Abba Aji full justice.
As His Lordship attains the age of 70 on Saturday, 7 November, 2026, I’ve little doubt in my thoughts that so long as substantive justice stays the cornerstone of Nigerian jurisprudence, the judgements of Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji will ceaselessly stay evergreen.
Happy Birthday, my Noble Lord. The Bar needs your Lordship a blissful and productive retirement.
The Onigegewura is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a member of the Body of Benchers.
