I didn’t influence my wife’s decisions as judge – Bulkachuwa

EMBATTLED Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, the member who represented Bauchi North Senatorial District of Bauchi State in the 9th Assembly, has denied media reports that he confessed to influencing the decisions of his wife, Zainab Bulkachuwa, a former President of the Court of Appeal, while she was still on the bench.

The Senator had come under criticism from Nigerians following reports that he spoke of how he used his position to influence the decisions made by his wife in matters concerning his colleagues while serving as the President of the Court of Appeal. He reportedly made the revelations on the floor of the Senate at the valedictory session of the 9th Assembly

The reports drew condemnations from many Nigerians. Calls for both the Senator and his wife to be probed, intensified all through the week. But speaking to BBC Hausa, Bulkachuwa clarified that his statement on the floor of the Senate was misrepresented as he was interrupted by the former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

“I was not even allowed to finish, I just started with some words like thanking her, saying she was patient with me as she was legal practitioner and I am a politician,” he said in the interview. I wanted to elaborate on the specific nature of the help she provided. There exists a wide range of support that professionals in various fields, such as legal practitioners, doctors, or engineers, can offer in their respective roles.

“Note that this assistance does not involve any illegal or unethical activities. In my personal relationship with her, I have never imposed upon her professional autonomy or attempted to influence her judgment in handling cases or running her office. Such matters are not even discussed in our home,” he said.