NBA Demands Arrest Of Bulkachuwa Over ‘Judicial Favour For Senators’ Comment

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has reacted to the public confession of Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa on how he reportedly influenced the decisions of his wife, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, while she was the President of the Court of Appeal.

NBA President Yakubu Maikyau said in a statement on Wednesday had described the video as shocking.

He said he watched the video clip of Senator Bulkachuwa’s confession at the 9th Senate’s valedictory session, which held on Saturday “with utter shock and disgust.”

Mr Maikyau said the National Judicial Council (NJC) has similarly condemned Senator Bulkachuwa’s conduct at its meeting on Wednesday.

He called for the investigation and prosecution of Mr Bulkachuwa, vowing that “the NBA will at all times rise to the defence of the honour, integrity and independence of the judiciary.

“It is in this regard that I call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to immediately invite Senator Muhammad Adamu Bulkachuwa for interrogation and proceed to prosecute him accordingly,” Mr Maikyau, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stated.

The NBA chief said he would follow up his call with “a letter to both the IGP and the ICPC Chairman in this respect.

“We reiterate our commitment to the maintenance and defence of the integrity and independence of the Judiciary in Nigeria, within the bounds of the law, irrespective of the personalities involved.”

The NBA’s reaction is coming four days after Senator Bulkachuwa, who represented Bauchi North, confessed during the valedictory session of the 9th Senate, which was held on Saturday.

In the video, Mr Bulkachuwa, who failed to secure a re-election to the Senate, was seen saying to his colleagues, “I look at faces in this chamber whom have come to me and sought for my help when my wife was the President of the Court of Appeal.”