I never compromised my oath of office – Justice Bulkachuwa (rtd)

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The retired immediate past president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, has defended her judicial integrity that she never compromised her oath of office.
According to her, she never interfered with the independence of any of the justices of the court in the discharge of their judicial functions.
Justice Bulkachuwa was responding to a statement made by her husband, Adamu Bulkachuwa, Senator who represented Bauchi North in the 9th Assembly, in a video making rounds.
In the trending video, the Senator was seen saying that he used his position to ask favour for his colleagues from his wife when she was in service.
On the floor of the Senate at the valedictory session of the 9th Assembly, Adamu said, “I look at faces in this chamber who have come to me and sought my help when my wife was the President of the Court of Appeal, and I’m sure.
“And I must thank particularly, my wife, whose freedom and independence I encroached upon while she was in office, and she has been very tolerant and accepted my encroachment, and extended her help to my colleagues.”
However, in a statement, Justice Bulkachuwa maintained that she never compromised her oath of office to favour any party who appeared before her throughout her judicial career spanning 40 years of service.
“My attention has been drawn to the trending video of what was said by my husband Senator Adamu M. Bulkachuwa. I want to state categorically that I never at any time compromised my oath of office to favour any party who appeared before me throughout my judicial career spanning 40 years of service to my country.
“My decisions were always based on the facts, the law and in accordance with my conscience and oath of office.
“Also, as President of the Court of Appeal, my fellow justices of the court can attest to the fact that I never interfered with the independence of any of the justices of the court in the discharge of their judicial functions,” she said.
Earlier, in an interview with BBC Hausa, Sen. Adamu Bulkachuwa said his words were misrepresented, adding that the former President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, interrupted him while he was explaining.
Bulkachuwa’s comment had gathered reactions, with Olisa Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), calling for his arrest.