I used my wife to influence judgment for politicians when she was appeal court president – Senator Bulkachuwa

Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa has disclosed that he leveraged his wife’s position as president of the Appeal Court to influence outcome of political cases.

Zainab Bulkachuwa was president of the Appeal Court between April 2014 to March 2020.

Recall that she had to recuse herself from the 2019 presidential election tribunal because of her husband’s membership of the All Progressives Congress whom the Peoples Democratic Party was challenging its victory in the presidential poll at the time.

Speaking during the Senate valedictory session on Monday, Bulkachuwa said many of his colleagues in the senate benefited from his encroachment on his wife’s territory as the country’s top judicial officer.

“Particularly, my wife, whose freedom I encroached while she was in office,” Mr Bulkachuwa said. “She has been very tolerant and accepted my encroachment and extended her help to my colleagues.”

The senator was still speaking when outgoing Senate President Ahmad Lawan, who presided over the valedictory session, interrupted him.

Pointing out Bulkachuwa indiscretion, Lawan noted that his revelation should not be made in full glare of the public.

“Distinguished, I don’t think this is a good idea going this direction,” Mr Lawan said.

Lawan, who contested the All Progressives Congress presidential primary ticket in June but lost, returned to the Senate after a controversial and fierce legal battle with Bashir Sheriff Machina, who won the Yobe North senatorial primary ticket of the APC.

During the same valedictory session, Rochas Okorocha had mocked Lawan on the circumstances surrounding his return to the senate without duly participating in his party’s primary elections.

Okorocha, an outgoing senator representing Imo West, said: “I did not contest for the senate this period. I only contested for the office of the president. You are a very smart politician. How you came back to the Senate is another chapter in our political history that we need to discuss.”

Bulkachuwa revelation is a confirmation of ingrained misgivings and longstanding suspicion of the unholy alliance between desperate politicians and corrupt judges.