‘Monumental disgrace’ — Agbakoba hits Bulkachuwa over remark suggesting influence in court cases

Olisa Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has faulted Adamu Bulkachuwa, a senator representing Bauchi north, over some of his recent comments.

During the senate valedictory session on Saturday, Bulkachuwa said he often influenced the decisions of Zainab Bulkachuwa, his wife and a former president of the court of appeal, while she was in office.

Zainab presided over the 2007 Sokoto governorship election petition tribunal.

She also presided over the suit in which Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa, challenged the nomination of Seriake Dickson, an ex-governor of the state, as the flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Particularly, my wife, whose freedom and independence I encroached upon while she was in office. And she has been very tolerant and accepted my encroachment and extended her help to my colleagues,” the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker said.

Ahmad Lawan, outgoing senate president who presided over the valedictory session, interrupted the senator before he spoke any further.

In a statement on Tuesday, Agbakoba said the senator’s comment was sufficient grounds for arrest.

“Senator Bulkachuwa’s statement at the valedictory of the 9th senate is a monumental disgrace for our institutions. This man deserves to be taken up immediately by the authorities. It is a blight on my confidence in our systems,” he said.

The former NBA president added that he had represented Usman Tuggar, APC senatorial candidate, in relation to disputed elections between him and Bulkachuwa for the Bauchi North zone–a case Zainab presided over.

“We lost in 3 courts. Senator Bulkachuwa seems to suggest why,” Agbakoba said.

“It remains for President Tinubu to cleanse the system in a most dramatic and fundamental process if he wishes to succeed.

“The chairman of NDIC has also made dramatic revelations pointing to possible deep rot in our systems of government responsible for financial and monetary policy. The president ought to act now!!”

Bulkachuwa’s comments also elicited outrage from a cross section of social media users. On Monday night, he sat atop the Twitter trend for a few hours.

Unbelievable that a Senator whose wife was the president of the court of appeal could brag how he influenced her decisions. He embarrassed the senate president by revealing the open truth about Nigeria’s judiciary.  We must give Senator Bulkachuwa a national award as a… pic.twitter.com/yYg35eS3P0

— Ndubuisi Ekekwe (@ndekekwe) June 12, 2023

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This is Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, the former President of your Court of Appeal. Her husband told the Senate President that he influenced his wife’s decisions. If Nigeria is not a serious joke, the NJC would commence the REVIEW of all her judgments in the last 5 yrs, immediately. pic.twitter.com/w5lPaVzl5D

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— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) June 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/Ollawaski/status/1668287974096752640?s=20

This is Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, former President of the Court of Appeal, who was influenced by her husband (Senator Bulkachuwa) on numerous occasions to help his colleagues win court cases. This is a confirmation of how corrupt our judiciary is!

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Nigerians, keep your eyes on… pic.twitter.com/A7EW0Lahig

— Jaypee (@JaypeeGeneral) June 12, 2023

This is a confirmation of a badly kept secret: that as President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa was neither honorable nor interested in justice. With her husband who was in the @NGRSenate, they raped Lady Justice. Only an independent inquiry can uncover how badly…. pic.twitter.com/6uEXDrmoug

— Chidi Odinkalu, CGoF (@ChidiOdinkalu) June 12, 2023

"GO TO COURT!"📌 When someone steals your prized possession and dares you to go to court, just know that his brother or wife is the judge.

Well done, Senator & Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa. Happy #DemocracyDay

Mana Chineke kpọọ ndị niile si na Naijiria agaghị adị nma ọkụ. pic.twitter.com/nZ4pwkqnfH

— Spotlight Abby (@Spotlight_Abby) June 12, 2023

Senator Ahmed Lawan wanted the Country to see the Bills of the 9th Senate and Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa wanted the Country to see the lavatory of the 9th Senate.

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) June 12, 2023

Nigerian Senator Bulkachuwa, whose wife, retired justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, was court of appeal president, confesses to using his wife's position to influence court cases in favour of his friends & colleagues.

The Nigerian judiciary has a task to rebuild its battered reputation. pic.twitter.com/6CP0bPPLmq

— KWEKU THE HUSTLER, COMMANDER OF THE HEADLESS MOB (@Urchilla01) June 12, 2023