NBA asks minister to apologize for comments on court judgment
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the Minister for Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, to withdraw her comment on the judgment that sacked Senator Aishatu Binani as a candidate for the governorship of the Congress of all progressives in Adamawa State.
Recall that the court had, in the lawsuit brought by one of the aspirants, Nuhu Ribadu, declared the gubernatorial primary invalid on the grounds that it had been conducted in violation of the electoral law of 2022 and the Constitution and the directives of the APC.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the global meeting and annual general meeting of her alma mater, Federal Government Girls’ College, Bida, Tallen had called the Federal High Court judgment a “kangaroo judgment” and had in besides making “disrespectful” comments. on this subject.
Reacting to the minister’s comment via a letter dated November 14 and signed by its chairman, Yakubu Maikyau, the NBA noted that it has no interest in the matter and does not hold a mandate for any of the disputing parties.
Maikyau further described Tallen’s conduct as uncivilized and completely unbecoming, especially for the holder of a public office who knows better and enjoys enormous influence over political supporters who may interpret these comments as a marching order. against the court.
The association also asked the minister to retract her remarks and apologize to the court within seven days.
The letter read;
“The association does not and will not take kindly to the action of any person or group of people who treats the Court and its processes or procedures with levity and contempt.
“Your comments were clearly calculated to undermine the integrity of the Court, discredit it and incite the public against the judiciary.
“The only permissible, legal, and civil way to express dissatisfaction with a court’s decision is to appeal the decision and not to resort to the use of derogatory language in reference to the court , no matter how unhappy one may be with his decisions.”
