By Milcah Tanimu

Former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal in Abuja to challenge the judgment of an FCT high court that barred her from holding public office. The FCT High Court, on December 18, ruled against Tallen in a case brought by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over her alleged ‘disparaging’ comments against a previous court judgment.

Justice Peter Kekemeke, in his ruling, offered Tallen the option of publishing a personally signed apology letter in two national dailies within 30 days. However, Tallen has appealed the judgment, claiming that it amounts to a miscarriage of justice.

In the Notice of Appeal filed on January 2, 2024, Tallen, represented by her lawyer JK Gadzama SAN, outlined 13 grounds of appeal against the trial court’s decision. She is seeking the appellate court to dismiss the suit and set aside the judgment, arguing that the trial court erred in law, especially in its decision against her preliminary objection on the competence of the respondent’s affidavit, locus standi, and propriety of the suit.

The legal battle stems from Tallen’s alleged comments against the judiciary following the nullification of Sen Aisha Dahiru (Binani)’s victory in the APC primary elections in Adamawa State. The NBA sought an apology from Tallen for her comments, leading to the legal action.

Tallen, a former Deputy Governor of Plateau and Minister of State, Science and Technology, maintains that her comments were in response to what she perceived as unfair treatment of women, like Binani, during the APC primaries for the 2023 general elections.”