Former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa has refuted her husband, Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa’s insinuation that she used her judicial position to favour his political friends.
Speaking at the 9th senate valedictory session on June 10, Senator Bulkachuwa thanked his wife for allowing him to often influence her decisions while she was in office.
Thanking some people for their support, the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker said, “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.”
The controversial comment sparked outrage, with many Nigerians calling for investigations into his claim.
Senator Bulkachuwa later recanted the comment in an interview with BBC Hausa, noting that Senator President Ahmad Lawan did not allow him to finish his thought.
He added that his wife never rendered help that compromised her position.
In a Sunday statement, Justice Bulkachuwa stated that she never compromised her oath of office in the 40 years she served on the bench.
“My attention has been drawn to the trending video of what was said by my husband Senator Adamu M. Bulkachuwa,” the statement reads.
“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,” she said.
She disclosed that her decisions were always based on “the facts, the law and my conscience and oath of office”.
“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 added.