The recent statement made by Senator Bulkachuwa has left Nigerians deeply unsettled, shedding light on the lack of impartiality within the Nigerian Judiciary. It exposed the disheartening reality that some judges manipulate the law to favour influential politicians.
However, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Uwen Nwoko, urges Nigerians not to pass judgment on the entire judiciary based solely on Senator Bulkachuwa’s revelation. In an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Nwoko emphasized that the role of Bulkachuwa’s wife, Zainab, as the President of the Court of Appeal should not be construed as a reflection of the entire judiciary.
Nwoko cautioned against generalizing, reminding the public of the many judicial officers who uphold high standards of integrity. He highlighted the judiciary as the pillar of justice, the last resort for the common man, and the institution responsible for delivering judgments, making rulings, and reaching decisions solely based on the principles of the law.
“That revelation by distinguished Senator Bulkachuwa is a pointer that a lot of the things that we see and work with are not exactly what they ought to be,” Nwoko said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.
“Let me begin by saying this as a way of caution that whatever he said about the role of his wife as Court of Appeal president should not be taken as a judgement on the judiciary.
Expressing his disappointment, Nwoko referred to the revelation as a major disgrace for Justice Bulkachuwa, those who worked alongside her, her family, and the ideals she represented. He viewed the compromising of the institution’s integrity as a stain on the former Appeal Court President and those who influenced her.
During the Senate valedictory session, 83-year-old Senator Bulkachuwa, who represented the Bauchi North Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly, made the disclosure that has since prompted widespread condemnation. Many Nigerians now demand an investigation into his wife’s tenure as the President of the Appeal Court from 2014 to 2020.
The question remains whether Senator Bulkachuwa’s statement will further erode Nigerians’ trust in the judicial process or if Uwen Nwoko’s response can help restore faith in the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary. Additionally, it is important to determine if there are indeed judges in Nigeria who have managed to maintain their independence and have not been compromised
