Pauline Tallen, the former Minister of Women Affairs, has issued an apology to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for her comments referring to a court decision as a “kangaroo judgment.”
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court had barred Tallen from holding public office following a case filed against her by the NBA.
In a judgment on December 18, 2023, Justice Peter Kekemeke ordered Tallen to publish a personally signed apology letter to the NBA or face a perpetual order barring her from public office.
In her apology dated January 15, Tallen expressed regret for her earlier comments.
Tallen’s alleged disparaging remarks against the judiciary were in response to the decision regarding the APC governorship primary elections in Adamawa State. The court ruled that her comments were “disparaging,” “unconstitutional, careless, reckless,” and “contemptuous of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.”
The NBA, under then-President Yakubu Maikyau, sought an apology from Tallen after she did not comply with their earlier letter demanding a withdrawal of her comments. The association then initiated legal action against her before the FCT High Court.
Tallen, in her apology letter, clarified that her statement was misconstrued and not intended to undermine the judiciary’s integrity. She expressed her highest esteem and extended blessings to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The letter read, “This is with reference to the Judgment of the FCT High Court, delivered on December 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!”
NAN