The supporters of Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party have continued to question the independence and integrity of the judiciary after Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa’s confession of influencing the decisions of his wife, Zainab, the president of the Appeal Court between 2014 and 2020.

In his valedictory statement on the house floor on Monday, Mr Bulkachuwa, a member of the All Progressives Congress, disclosed that he influenced his wife’s decision to “help” his colleagues, a confession that former Senate President Ahmad Lawan faulted.

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

Following the revelation of how Mrs Bulkachuwa compromised her office to favour politicians, the supporters of Messrs Obi and Abubakar expressed worries over the integrity of judicial officers as the duo continue their litigation challenging President Bola Tinubu’s victory at the presidential election petitions tribunal.

Demola Olarewaju, Mr Abubakar’s media aide, tweeted that Mr Bukachuwa’s revelation confirmed the PDP’s position that APC members frequently compromise justice.

He added, “She and her husband should be investigated.” 

Chidi Odinkalu, a former National Human Rights Commission chairman, said the confession was timely as Messrs Obi and Abubakar challenged the victory of Mr Tinubu at the tribunal.

“You know, the only thing new here is the man is confessing his impunity. For doing that, he and his wife got rewarded with having their daughter appointed to the High Court Bench,” said Mr Odinkalu. “She will be a judge for nearly 35 years.”

In a tweet on Tuesday, a legal practitioner, Olisa Agbakoba, adjudged the ninth Senate as “a monumental disgrace for our institutions” and called for Mr Bulkachuwa’s arrest to boost Nigerians’ confidence in the judiciary.

Also, via her official Twitter page, Aisha Yesufu, an activist and ardent supporter of Mr Obi, said, “The court of Appeal is also on trial. Will it continue to allow encroachment by politicians as we have heard from Senator Bulkachuwa, or will it finally free itself and become the last resort of the common man and not the playground of corrupt politicians.”

A Nigerian lawyer, Ayisha Osori, noted that the revelation portrayed happenings in the judiciary.

Another supporter of Mr Obi, NEFERTITI, @firstladyship, said, “What Senator Bulkachuwa told Lawan is not a secret. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa is the one you know. How about others? Justice in Nigeria has always been influenced.”

In his Democracy Day speech on Monday, Mr Tinubu said his government would not tolerate the use of “illegal court” orders to truncate democracy. 

Meanwhile, Peoples Gazette had, in March, reported how Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola was sighted in London pretending to be a physically-challenged older man in what Supreme Court sources said was a clandestine preparation for a meeting with Tinubu, who was then president-elect.