Adamu Bulkachuwa, a former senator representing Bauchi North, stated during a senate valedictory session that he never influenced the decisions of his wife, Zainab Bulkachuwa, who served as the former president of the Court of Appeal. He acknowledged that he sometimes “encroached on” his wife’s space while she held office. However, his comments were interrupted by Ahmad Lawan, the former senate president, who expressed reservations about the direction of the discussion.
Bulkachuwa’s remarks caused outrage, leading to calls for investigations into his claim. In an interview with BBC Hausa, the former senator stated that Lawan did not allow him to fully express his thoughts. He clarified that the “help” he mentioned was not meant in a negative sense. He emphasized that he never interfered with his wife’s work or instructed her on how to handle cases. He explained that the “help” he referred to was his wife’s natural behavior and professional conduct, which is expected from any employee, be it in law, medicine, engineering, or any other field. He clarified that “help” did not imply engaging in illegal or unethical practices.