The authorities of the United States (U.S) have denied granting visa application to Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the judge who read the January 14, 2020 Supreme Court judgment in the disputed Imo governorship election.
This was contained in a letter dated February 15, 2023 and issued by the Foreign Service of the United States of America (USA).
In the letter, the US authorities noted that Kekere-Ekun was denied visa based on ‘sanctioned activities’.
The letter partly reads, “The office regrets to inform you that it is unable to issue a visa to you have been found ineligible to receive a visa under the following section(s) of immigration and Nationality Act.
This comes days after a former governor of Cross River Donald Duke had revealed that the United States government has sanctioned some Justices in Nigeria.
Duke who spoke in Lagos at the launch of a memoir of retired Justice Charles Archibong said that America slammed visa ban on the Justices who delivered a verdict that made “a candidate who came fourth the winner of an election.”
Duke said their applications to attend a Judges’ Conference in the U.S. were rejected, though their aides were given visas.
It would be recalled that a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Muhammad Tanko had nullified the governorship election of Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the rightful winner of the exercise.
The court also ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ihedioha and give a fresh one to Uzodimma who was then sworn in as the sixth governor of Imo State on January 15 2020.
The judgement, which removed Ihedioha as Governor was delivered by Justice Kekere-Ekun.
The panel included Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Justice Amiru Sanusi, Justice Amina Adamu Augie and Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji.
The development also comes three weeks after Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced visa restrictions on some unnamed citizens, reiterating U.S. commitment to advancing democracy.
“Today, I am announcing visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process in a recent Nigerian election.
“Under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the individuals and certain family members will be found ineligible for visas to America,” Blinken had said.
