‘You Courage Has Increased Public’s Confidence in the Judiciary’ – Atiku Lauds Justice Bulkachuwa
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar, has lauded the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, for withdrawing from the presidential election petition tribunal.
Abubakar and his party had requested the withdrawal of Bulkachuwa due to her link with her husband, who is a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Atiku, who in a statement noted that his “legal team’s objection was not a reflection on Justice Bulkachuwa’s character or competence said he has great respect for her, being a pioneer and advocate for gender equality and female empowerment.
“One of the principal maxims of the Common Law is nemo judex in causa sua (no man shall be a judge in his own case). The call by my legal team for Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa to recuse herself from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal was predicated on this principle, being that her husband, Alhaji Mohammed Bulkachuwa, is an All Progressives Congress Senator-elect and the case she was expected to adjudicate upon had a bearing on that party.
“It is with this in mind that I commend Justice Bulkachuwa for recusing herself from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Panel hearing my petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, President Muhammadu Buhari.”
While pointing that her action showed courage and is an act of patriotism, Atiku said that she has, by this action, increased the confidence the public have for the judiciary.
“Not only do I commend her, I also pray, especially in this holy month of Ramadan, that Justice will be done by the tribunal according to the fear of God and not in keeping with respect for the powers that be.
“May God bless the judiciary and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
