Court has set a date for the judgement in Bulkachuwa’s case against the ICPC and others

After hearing from all sides, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the case to October 25 for a decision.

Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa’s suit against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Police Force has been adjourned until October 25 by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Bulkachuwa is accusing the ICPC, the DSS, and others of conspiring with his political opponents to harass him in the aftermath of his valedictory remarks on the Senate floor, which he claims his political opponents continue to misinterpret.

The ex-lawmaker, who is the husband of the Court of Appeal’s immediate-past President, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, cited the ICPC’s June 15 letter of invitation over his comment on the Senate floor, which he said many misinterpreted to mean that he had influenced his wife’s handling of some case while she was president of the Court of Appeal.

He claimed that as a serving Senator at the time he made the remark, he was exempt from arrest or detention for any of his conduct, action, or speech on the Senate floor.

In a supporting affidavit, he stated that he was freely expressing himself on the floor of the upper legislative chamber when the then Senate President, Ahmad Lawal, interrupted and prevented him from finishing his statement.

He claimed that the Senate never questioned him or reprimanded him for any misbehaviour.

Bulkachuwa added that he was shocked to receive an invitation from the ICPC requesting that he report for an interview on June 22 for interrogation about his remark on the Senate floor.

He claimed that under the law, only the Senate in session (committee of the whole) or any of its sub-committees had the disciplinary authority to summon him to answer any inquiry or questions about his conduct or comments on the floor of the upper chamber.

Bulkachuwa further requested a permanent injunction against the defendants and other Federal Government entities from inviting or requiring him to come before them for interviews or interrogation over his inchoate comments on the floor of the 9th Senate.

During the day’s hearing, Bulkachuwa’s counsel, Donald Ayibiowu, urged the court to grant all of the reliefs requested.

The Clerk of the National Assembly contended in a counter-affidavit that Bulkachuwa was immune from any type of proceedings based on anything spoken or written during the plenary session.

Attorney General Oyin Koleoso’s lawyer, Oyin Koleoso, criticised the plaintiff’s reasoning, claiming that he no longer had protection from arrest and prosecution because he was no longer a Senator.

Koleoso requested that the lawsuit be dismissed.

After hearing from all sides, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the case to October 25 for a decision.