A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, fixed October 25 for judgement in a suit filed by Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa against the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Police Force.
Bulkachuwa had publicly reportedly stated during the valedictory session of the 9th Senate that he influenced his wife, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa’s decisions while she was serving as the President of the Court of Appeal.
Justice Bulkachuwa was the President of the Court of Appeal between 2014 and 2020 and retired from the court after reaching the mandatory age of 70.
Bulkachuwa in the lawsuit, accused the ICPC, DSS, and others of colluding with his political enemies to harass him following his valedictory comment on the floor of the Senate, which he said his political enemies continued to misrepresent.
Bulkachuwa stated that he was surprised to receive an invitation from the ICPC, asking him to report for an interview on June 22 for interrogation over his comment on the floor of the Senate.
He argued that by law, it was only the Senate in session (committee of the whole) or any of its sub-committees that had the disciplinary power to invite him to answer any question or questions relating to his conduct or utterances on the floor of the upper chamber.
Bulkachuwa also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and other agencies of the Federal Government from further inviting and or compelling him “to appear before them for interviews or questioning in respect of his inchoate utterances on the floor of the 9th Senate.
At the hearing on Friday, Counsel to Bulkachuwa, Donald Ayibiowu, urged the court to grant all the reliefs sought.
In a counter affidavit, the Clerk of the National Assembly argued that Bulkachuwa enjoyed immunity from any form of proceedings in respect of words spoken or written at the plenary session.
The Attorney General’s counsel, Oyin Koleoso, faulted the plaintiff’s argument, contending that he no longer had any immunity from arrest and prosecution because he had ceased to be a Senator
Koleoso urged the court to dismiss the suit.
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