Atiku’s Petition: I’m Sacrifice For Female Judges – Bulkachuwa

President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, on Wednesday, recused herself from the panel considering the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate despite the unanimous decision of her four colleagues on her to remain.

She, nevertheless, maintained that the clean bill of health given her by her colleagues would form a basis to spare other female judges from facing what she claimed she faced.

Bulkachuwa, said she would recuse herself in consideration of the petition lodged by Atiku that her husband and son are active members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, which is a party to the petition lodged by Atiku.

“For personal reason I will be recusing myself now. I insisted that the matter be tried fully so that next time, another female judge will not face what I faced.

“I am withdrawing. A new chairman will be appointed in due course. Meanwhile, the four member panel will be continuing with hearing of any pending application”.

Before she recused herself, Justice Peter Ige in a ruling that was adopted by the three other justices on the panel observed t the PDP and its candidate did not prove the allegation of potential bias against Bulkachuwa.

“I am of the firm view that enough material have not been placed before this court to show that the presiding Justice is likely to be biased in the hearing of the petition.”

Justice Ige also observed that it could not be said that Justice Bulkachuwa’s husband or his son were parties to the petition saying:
“I am of the view that the petitioners have not been able to particularly establish the need for the presiding Justice to recuse herself from further participation.

” Consequently, the petitioners’ application fails and is hereby dismissed. There will be no order as to cost”, Justice Ige held.

His submission received the endorsement of the three other justices on the panel, namely, Justices Abdul Aboki, Samuel Oseji and Joseph Ikyeghn.

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