Former Minister, Tallen Tenders Public Apology To NBA Over Kangaroo Judgment Comment

Former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, has published a public apology to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over her statement declaring a court judgment as “kangaroo” which was misconstrued.

In separate full-page advertisements published in Punch and Guardian newspapers on Tuesday, Tallen clarified that her criticism of the Federal High Court decision sacking Adamawa APC governorship candidate, Sen. Aishatu Binani, was quoted out of context.

Tallen, who recently lost her defamation suit against the NBA, stated that her outburst after the court ruling was not meant to disrespect the judiciary or undermine its integrity.

“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,” she wrote.

The former minister gave assurances that her comments were not a call for civil disobedience against the legal profession, while apologizing profusely from the fallout.

In December 2022, an FCT High Court held Tallen liable for defamation against the NBA who filed a N500 million suit against her over the ‘kangaroo judgment’ comment made on national television.

Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Oriji ordered the ex-minister to pay N500,000 in damages while also publishing a public apology.