A High Court sitting in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has ordered that an immediate past Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, of former President Buhari administration be barred from holding any public office unless she, within 30 days, apologises publicly for disrespecting a court. The court, presided over by Justice U.P. Kekemeke made this judgement that the injunction might become perpetual if Tallen, by any act of omission or commission refused to apologise within the time stipulated to her by the court.
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, had in December, 2022 disagreed with Tallen, who was a serving Minister at the time, for describing a High court decision as “a kangaroo judgment that should be rejected by well-meaning Nigerians” the decision of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/YL/12/2022 in Mallam Nuhu Ribadu vs All Progressives Congress (APC) & 2 Ors delivered on October 14, 2022.
Subsequently, the NBA demanded an apology from the Minister, for making a caricature of the justice system and failure which the body would approach the court.
A statement by NBA’s National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb Lawal, released today Monday reads, “Recall that on the 14th day of December, 2022, the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) took out an originating summons against Dame Pauline Tallen. The aforesaid statement by the former minister was widely circulated in both social and print media.
The statement continued, “By a letter dated 14 November, 2022, the NBA President, Mr Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau (SAN) had written to the former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development demanding her to withdraw the said disparaging comments and tender an unreserved and public apology to the court, failing which the NBA would institute an action against her as being unfit to continue to hold any public office in Nigeria.
“This letter was never responded to and the demands therein were not complied with, hence the institution of Suit No: CV/816/2016 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
“Earlier today, the 18th day of December, 2023, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory found in favour of the Incorporated Trustees of the NBA and against the defendant, Dame Pauline Tallen, in Suit No: CV/816/2016. Consequently, the court declared that the said statement of Dame Pauline Tallen (the defendant) was unconstitutional, careless, reckless, disparaging, a call to disobey the judgment of court and therefore contemptuous of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.”
The statement noted that the court also granted among other reliefs “an injunction restraining Dame Pauline Tallen from holding any public office in Nigeria, unless she purges herself of the ignoble conduct by publishing a personally signed apology letter to Nigerians and the judiciary.
“The court ordered that the injunction restraining the defendant from holding any public office in Nigeria shall become perpetual if she fails to abide by the order directing her to publish an apology letter within 30 days.”
The NBA disclosed that it cannot fold its arm while some individuals who think are powerful go about making fun of court decision, saying NBA is committed to defending the integrity of the judiciary.
Meanwhile, the NBA also call out any judicial officer to abide by their judicial code of conduct, even as it urged judicial officers to take their oath seriously and avoid actions and omissions that cast aspersion on the image of the judiciary.
NBA President thanked the legal team that prosecuted the suit on behalf of the body, including Aikpokpo Martins, Olukunle Edun, Eseagwu Augustine Nwabueze, Anne Agi, Nwabueze Kelvin, and T.J.J Danjuma.