The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has ruled to bar the former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, from holding public office. The decision was based on her disparaging comments against the judiciary regarding a Federal High Court decision in Adamawa State last year.
The controversy revolves around the 2023 general election and the candidacy of Aishatu Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State. Despite winning the party’s primary election, Binani’s victory was contested and nullified by the court due to alleged non-compliance with electoral regulations.
Ms. Tallen, a staunch supporter of Binani, publicly criticized the court’s decision, labeling it a “Kangaroo judgement” and calling on Nigerians to reject it. She also claimed that the ruling reflected the marginalization of women in Nigerian politics. The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, demanded an apology from Ms. Tallen for her remarks, threatening legal action. When she refused, the NBA initiated legal proceedings in the FCT High Court.
In its Monday judgment, the court deemed Ms. Tallen’s comments as “unconstitutional, careless, reckless, and disparaging,” characterizing her call to disregard the court’s decision as “contemptuous.” The court issued an injunction preventing her from holding public office unless she issues a public apology in two national dailies—The PUNCH and Guardian Newspapers—within 30 days.
The ball is now in Ms. Tallen’s court, as the decision presents her with the choice of either issuing a public apology to salvage her political career or exploring legal avenues to contest the court’s ruling.
