*Urges Her To Continue Mentoring Young Lawyers, Judges
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The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON, has paid tribute to retiring Supreme Court Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji, CFR, describing her judicial career as an example of integrity, discipline, dedication and the advancement of women in Nigeria’s judiciary.
The CJN said Justice Abba Aji’s journey from the administrative ranks of the judiciary to the Supreme Court demonstrated how perseverance and professional excellence could open opportunities for women seeking leadership positions within the legal profession.
Justice Kekere-Ekun made the remarks in an address prepared for delivery at the valedictory court session in honour of Justice Abba Aji on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja.
The ceremony marks the retirement of Justice Abba Aji, who turns 70 on November 7, 2026, after a judicial career spanning several decades.
Reflecting on the retiring Justice’s contributions, the CJN observed that some judicial careers could be described by the offices held and years spent in service, while others carried a legacy extending beyond official positions.
According to her, Justice Abba Aji belongs to the latter category because her professional journey helped redefine the place of women in the Nigerian judiciary.
“For many of us, particularly the women who have entered the Nigerian Judiciary in more recent years, Hon. Justice Abba-Aji’s career is part of the story of how the place of women in our Judiciary has evolved,” the CJN stated.
She noted that Justice Abba Aji entered judicial service at a time when female representation on the Bench was considerably lower than it is today.
“Long before the presence of women on the Bench became as familiar as it is today, she was already serving, quietly establishing a record of competence and service,” she added.
Born in Gashua, Yobe State, on November 7, 1956, Justice Abba Aji obtained a Diploma in Law and subsequently a Bachelor of Laws degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, before being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981.
However, her involvement in judicial administration began much earlier.
In 1973, she joined the judicial service in Borno State, where she held various administrative positions, including Clerical Assistant, Assistant Registrar, Acting Registrar and Higher Registrar.
The CJN explained that those early responsibilities gave the retiring Justice a practical understanding of the judiciary’s administrative foundations, an experience that later influenced her approach to judicial service.
Following her call to the Bar, Justice Abba Aji served as Senior State Counsel before joining the lower Bench in 1986.
She progressed through the Magistracy, serving as Senior Magistrate and subsequently Chief Magistrate.
In November 1991, she became Chief Registrar of the High Court of Yobe State.
A month later, in December 1991, she was appointed a Judge of the Yobe State High Court, becoming the first female judge in the history of the state.
Justice Kekere-Ekun described the appointment as an important milestone in the development of women’s participation in the judiciary.
She explained that Justice Abba Aji’s career had served as a form of mentorship, even for women who never had a direct professional relationship with her.
“A young woman who has witnessed her rise through the ranks of the Judiciary from the Magistracy to the High Court, the Court of Appeal and ultimately the Supreme Court could draw inspiration from her example,” she stated.
The CJN added that such influence represented a quieter but enduring form of mentorship, where professional achievements inspired others without formal teaching or personal contact.
She described Justice Abba Aji’s professional journey as evidence of hard work, discipline and a deep understanding of the law.
Beyond her judicial responsibilities, Justice Abba Aji participated in public assignments, including the Mobile Traffic Court and Judicial Commissions of Inquiry.
She also held leadership positions within the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria.
On September 22, 2004, she was sworn in as a Justice of the Court of Appeal.
During her service at the appellate court, she worked in several divisions, including Benin and Abuja, and served as Presiding Justice in Ekiti, Owerri and Kaduna.
She also served on Election Petition Tribunals, where she participated in the determination of disputes arising from Nigeria’s electoral process.
The CJN acknowledged the challenges associated with electoral adjudication and commended Justice Abba Aji for undertaking those responsibilities as part of her contribution to the administration of justice.
Justice Kekere-Ekun particularly highlighted the retiring Justice’s commitment to advancing the position of women within the legal profession and judiciary.
She recalled Justice Abba Aji’s leadership roles in the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria and her tenure as President of the National Association of Women Judges Nigeria (NAWJN).
According to the CJN, those responsibilities demonstrated that Justice Abba Aji’s commitment to women’s professional advancement extended beyond her personal achievements.
She said the retiring Justice contributed to creating an environment in which other women could develop confidence, find their voices and assume positions of leadership.
The CJN observed that the progress recorded by women in the judiciary was built partly on the courage and perseverance of earlier generations of female judicial officers.
She added that the National Association of Women Judges Nigeria remained part of the institutional legacy of women such as Justice Abba Aji.
On January 8, 2019, Justice Abba Aji was elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, marking the culmination of a professional journey through the different levels of the country’s judicial hierarchy.
Justice Kekere-Ekun said her elevation brought to the apex court the perspective of a judicial officer whose experience had been shaped by different courts, responsibilities and generations of judges.
She praised Justice Abba Aji’s contributions to Nigerian jurisprudence, describing her years on the Bench as characterised by integrity and fidelity to the judicial oath.
“Her years on the Bench have been marked by an unblemished record of service, integrity and fidelity to the judicial oath,” the CJN declared.
She also commended the retiring Justice for delivering numerous well-considered judgments based on careful examination of the law and the facts presented before the court.
The CJN expressed confidence that those judgments would continue to guide judicial reasoning and contribute to the development of Nigerian law.
Beyond her adjudicatory responsibilities, Justice Kekere-Ekun highlighted Justice Abba Aji’s concern for the welfare of judicial officers and court personnel.
She recalled that the retiring Justice served as Chairperson of the Justices’ Welfare Committee at both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
In those capacities, Justice Abba Aji worked towards improving the welfare and working conditions of Justices and other members of the court community.
According to the CJN, those efforts demonstrated her understanding that judicial officers and other persons who dedicate their professional lives to the administration of justice deserve institutional support and appropriate working conditions.
She maintained that Justice Abba Aji’s concern for colleagues and staff would remain an important part of her legacy.
The CJN also recalled that the retiring Justice’s national contributions had been recognised through the conferment of the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).
Justice Abba Aji was also appointed a Life Bencher in 2018.
However, Justice Kekere-Ekun stressed that judicial achievements should not be measured solely by titles, honours or the length of service.
She explained that the true value of a judicial career was reflected in the quality of work performed, public confidence earned and the influence exerted on others.
“Yet, as I often say, the most meaningful measure of a judicial career is rarely found in the honours attached to one’s name. It is found in the work done, the confidence earned and the people influenced along the way,” she stated.
The CJN said Justice Abba Aji’s career offered an additional measure of achievement through the number of women who could now aspire to the highest levels of judicial leadership because of the example she had set.
Looking beyond her retirement, Justice Kekere-Ekun encouraged the retiring Justice to continue contributing to the legal profession through teaching, writing, mentoring and other forms of public service.
“Retirement will bring an end to the formal responsibilities of judicial office, but it does not bring an end to the value of experience,” she said.
She expressed confidence that Justice Abba Aji would continue to encourage younger members of the profession and serve as a source of inspiration to those pursuing careers in the judiciary.
The CJN also acknowledged the sacrifices made by the retiring Justice’s family throughout her years of service.
She observed that a demanding judicial career could not be sustained by the judicial officer alone, noting that family members often provide support and bear the pressures associated with public responsibilities.
She thanked Justice Abba Aji’s family for their contributions to her professional journey.
Speaking on behalf of the Justices of the Supreme Court, the entire judiciary and the Nigerian legal profession, Justice Kekere-Ekun expressed appreciation for the retiring Justice’s years of service to the country.
“We thank you for the path you have walked and just as importantly, for the paths that became possible because you walked it,” the CJN stated.
In her concluding remarks, Justice Kekere-Ekun said Justice Abba Aji’s retirement represented the end of a distinguished period of judicial service but not the end of her influence on the legal profession.
She particularly emphasised the changes that had occurred in women’s representation within the judiciary during Justice Abba Aji’s career.
“You came into the Judiciary when there were few women on the Bench. You leave at a time when women occupy positions of significant responsibility throughout the judicial hierarchy,” she declared.
The CJN prayed for the retiring Justice’s continued good health, peace and fulfilment, expressing hope that retirement would provide opportunities for her to pursue interests that the demands of judicial office might previously have prevented.
She concluded by assuring Justice Abba Aji that her contributions to the administration of justice and the advancement of women would continue to inspire future generations of judicial officers.
“As you take your final bow from this Court, may you be assured that the path you have travelled will remain visible and a guide to those who come after you,” Justice Kekere-Ekun said.
“Thank you for your service.”
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