January 16, (THEWILL) – A former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, has apologised to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over her disparaging remarks against the judiciary concerning a decision of the Federal High Court in Adamawa State.
THEWILL reports that Justice Peter Kekemeke of the FCT High Court had, in a judgment on December 18, 2023, barred Tallen from holding public office, in a case filed against her by the NBA.
The controversy stems from the 2023 general election and the candidacy of Aishatu Dahiru, widely known as Binani, for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State.
Binani won the party’s primary election but the victory was challenged and ultimately nullified by a Federal High Court in Adamawa due to alleged non-compliance with electoral regulations.
Ms. Tallen, a staunch supporter of Binani, reacted to the court’s decision by calling it a “Kangaroo judgement” and urging Nigerians to reject it. She further alleged that the court ruling showcased the marginalisation of women in Nigerian politics.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, had demanded an apology from Ms Tallen for her comments or face legal action. Her refusal led to the NBA initiating legal proceedings at the FCT High Court.
Justice Kekemeke had in a judgment on December 18, labelled Ms Tallen’s remarks as “unconstitutional, careless, reckless, and disparaging,” deeming her call to disregard the court’s decision as “contemptuous.”
The court granted an injunction restraining her from holding public office unless she issues a public apology in two national dailies—The PUNCH and Guardian Newspapers, within 30 days.
However, Tallen, in an apology letter to the NBA and Nigerians, signed by her and dated January 15, apologised over the said comments.
The letter reads: “This is with reference to the Judgment of the FCT High Court delivered on Dec. 18, 2023, in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/816/2022 (The Incorporated Trustees of Nigerian Bar Association and Dame Pauline Tallen, OFR, KSG).
“I hereby apologise to the Judiciary and Nigerians for the statement credited to me that the Court’s decision in Suit No. FHC/YL/CS/12/2022 (Mallam Nuhu Ribadu Vs APC & 3 Ors), sacking Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani as the 2023 APC Adamawa State Governorship Candidate, was a Kangaroo Judgment and should be rejected.
“The said statement was, by and large, misconstrued and quoted out of context, as it was not in any way, or by any stretch of the imagination, intended to malign or undermine the integrity of the nation’s judiciary, neither was it a call for civil disobedience against the Bar and the Bench.
“Kindly accept the assurances of my highest esteem. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!”
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