Controversy Surrounds Independence of Nigerian Judiciary.
- Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa Defends Her Integrity.
- NBA Calls for Senator Bulkachuwa’s Arrest and Probe.
- Senator Bulkachuwa Denies Using Wife to Influence Court Cases.
Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, the immediate past President of the Court of Appeal, has defended her integrity while performing her duties as a judicial officer.
Justice Bulkachuwa was responding to her husband, former Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, who said he obtained favours from her on behalf of some lawmakers.
Justice Bulkachuwa stated that she has never violated her oath of office in her 40-year judicial career.
After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70, the former PCA stepped down from the Bench in March 2020.
However, the spotlight was shone on her tenure last Tuesday, following the release of a video clip showing her husband making comments that many interpreted as evidence of his interference in her duties as head of the country’s second highest court and possibly influencing her judicial decisions.
However, in a statement dated June 17, Justice Bulkachuwa stated that such insinuation was far from the truth, rejecting her interpretation of judicial compromise.
“My attention has been drawn to the trending video of what my husband, Senator Adamu M. Bulkachuwa, said,” she said.
“I want to state unequivocally that throughout my judicial career spanning 40 years of service to my country, I never compromised my oath of office to favour any party who appeared before me.”
“My decisions were always based on facts, the law, and my conscience and oath of office.”
“Also, as President of the Court of Appeal, my fellow justices can attest to the fact that I never interfered with any of the justices’ independence in the discharge of their judicial functions.”
In March 2020, at a valedictory service in her honour in Lagos, the former PCA told The Nation and other journalists that she kept her husband’s politics and political career out of her home.
She stated that this helped her avoid undue political influence.
“My husband is a politician, but politics is not allowed in the house,” Justice Bulkachuwa said. My children are well aware of this. There will be no politicians in the house. My husband can do whatever he wants as a politician, but we rarely discuss politics at home. All of this helps to protect against political influence.”
Similarly, Senator Bulkachuwa denied using his wife to influence court cases in an interview with BBC Hausa Service on June 17.
In the video clip released last Tuesday, former Senator Bulkachuwa spoke during the Ninth Senate’s valedictory session.
The former lawmaker claimed that he infringed on his wife’s “freedom and independence” while she was serving as the head of Nigeria’s second highest judicial office.
He claims she did not reject him.
“…Especially my wife, whose freedom and independence were encroached upon while she was in office,” Bulkachuwa said. She has been tolerant and has accepted my encroachment, which she has extended to my colleagues…”
Senator Ahmad Lawan, however, interrupted and discouraged him from continuing.
In 2019, Senator Bulkachuwa was elected to represent Bauchi North.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for Senator Bulkachuwa’s arrest and probe.
The former lawmaker, who has been called for his arrest and investigation by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), top lawyers, and other stakeholders, blamed former Senate President Ahmad Lawan for not allowing him to finish his remarks.
The NBA said that his comments were “a serious allegation of judicial misconduct.”
It is unclear what action, if any, will be taken against Senator Bulkachuwa.
However, the controversy has raised questions about the independence of the judiciary in Nigeria.
