A former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), yesterday, called on President Bola Tinubu to order a probe into the statement made by Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa that he allegedly influenced his wife’s judgements as President of the Court of Appeal in favour of his fellow senators.
Senator Bulkachuwa, who was elected to represent Bauchi North in 2019, made the controversial statement at the valedictory session of the ninth Senate.
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His wife, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, retired as the President of the Court of Appeal on March 6, 2020, at 70.
At the Senate valedictory session, he said: “Particularly my wife whose freedom and independence were infringed upon when she was in office. She has been tolerant and accepted my encroachment and extended it to my colleagues.”
The Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, however, quickly stopped him, saying he did not think it was appropriate for the senator to make such comments. “Distinguished Senator, I don’t think that is the right route.”
However, Agbakoba, in a press release issued in Lagos, said the senator’s statement was a monumental disgrace which needed to be probed.
He stated, “Senator Bulkachuwa’s statement at the valedictory of the ninth Senate is a monumental disgrace for our institutions. This man deserves to be taken up immediately by the authorities. It is a blight on my confidence in our systems.
“I represented Usman Tuggar in the disputed elections between him and Senator Bulkachuwa for Bauchi North senatorial. We lost in three courts. Senator Bulkachuwa seems to suggest why,” the senior lawyer said.
Agbakoba, therefore, called on Tinubu to order a probe of the statement and, by extension, cleanse the system.
“President Tinubu must cleanse the system in a dramatic and fundamental process if he wishes to succeed.
“The chairman of NDIC has also made dramatic revelations pointing to possible deep rot in our systems of government responsible for financial and monetary policy. The president ought to act now,” he stated.