Monday, September 7, 2026

My wife used her position as Appeal Court president to favour politicians: Senator Bulkachuwa

Mr Bulkachuwa’s comment strengthens longstanding suspicion of connivance between Nigerian judges and politicians.

• June 12, 2023
Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, Bola Tinubu, Zainab Bulkachuwa and Ahmad Lawan
Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, Bola Tinubu, Zainab Bulkachuwa and Ahmad Lawan

Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa has revealed that his wife used her office as president of the Appeal Court to favour his colleagues in the Senate. 

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

Mr Bulkachuwa made this revelation during the Senate valedictory session on Monday. 

“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, cut in to stop the Senator. 

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

Mr 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 Mr Lawan on the circumstances surrounding his return to the senate without duly participating in his party’s primary elections. 

Mr 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.”

Further mocking the controversial return of Mr Lawan to the Senate, Mr Okorocha said: “I was there in the field with you running for president, I never knew how you were able to meander, leaving some of us. Next time you must teach me how to do that.” 

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