Court Approves Arrest of Justice Bulkachuwa’s Husband for Influencing Wife’s Judgments
In a significant legal development, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled against Senator Ahmad Muhammad Bulkachuwa, permitting the arrest of the senator for his admission of influencing his wife’s judicial decisions while she served as the President of Nigeria’s Court of Appeal.
In a recent viral video, Senator Bulkachuwa publicly acknowledged his role in influencing his wife, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, during her tenure. He expressed gratitude for her assistance to his colleagues in the National Assembly, as she served as a judge.
Despite Senator Bulkachuwa’s attempt to shield himself from investigation by invoking legislative privilege, the court firmly rejected his arguments. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his ruling, stated that the senator’s confession amounted to an act of corruption and therefore warranted investigation and potential prosecution.
The court emphasized that no one, even a member of the Senate, should be exempt from accountability for criminal actions related to influencing the administration of justice.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the State Security Service, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), and the Nigeria Police Force were named as defendants in the case.
Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, the retired judge at the center of this controversy, has previously denied favoring any party during her judicial career.
This landmark ruling marks a significant step in ensuring accountability within the Nigerian legal system and underscores the principle that no one is above the law.