Bulkachuwa Snubs ICPC’s Invitation, Begs Court to Stop Arrest, Probe of Influencing Wife’s Decisions 

Alex Enumah in Abuja 

Embattled former Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, has instituted a legal action at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to stop the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from arresting or probing him, over claims of influencing his wife’s decisions.

Adamu is husband to immediate past President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa (rtd).

Speaking last month at the valedictory session of the 9th Senate, the Senator reminded his colleagues of the favours he had done to some of them in the past by invading his wife’s privacy for favourable decisions in cases involving them.

Responding, the ICPC, it was learnt, invited the former Senator to appear before it on July 6, for further explanation.

However, rather than appear at the ICPC office, Bulkachuwa filed a suit at the Federal High Court to stop his investigation.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/895/2023, Bulkachuwa is asking the court to declare that the commission’s invitation is “ultra vires, illegal, arbitrary, oppressive, unconstitutional and a gross violation and a likelihood of continuous infraction of the applicant’s fundamental human right as guaranteed by sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 41 and 46 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”

Besides, he wants the court to interpret section 1 of the legislative houses (Powers and Privileges) Act 2017, which confers immunity on him from any civil or criminal litigation in respect of any utterance he makes on the floor of the upper chamber.

“A declaration that the applicant is entitled to freedom of speech/expression by Section 39(1) of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria (as amended) and as exercise by his other senators’ colleagues and having not been so afforded by the leadership of the ninth (9th) Senate, cannot be held liable for the unintended inference of an inchoate speech/statement/expression,” the suit reads.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents jointly and severally, particularly the 4th respondent (ICPC), acting directly or indirectly through their agents, officers, privies, assigns and any other persons by whomsoever or however constituted from inviting, harassing, intimidating and/or compelling the applicant to appear before the respondents pending the hearing and determination of suit.”

Others sued alongside the ICPC are: Attorney General of the Federation, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Department of State Service (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force.

Although the then Senate President, Ahmad Lawan had severally cautioned Bulkachuwa in the cause of his statement on the floor of the red chamber about influencing his wife, but the beans had already been spilled.

Despite his clarification and his wife’s denial, the statement went viral with the Nigerian Bar Association and others calling for a thorough investigation of Senator Bulkachuwa’s claim.