In Suit No: CV/816/2016, a Federal Capital Territory high court found in favour of the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and against a former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Tallen.
As a result, the Court ruled Tallen’s statement to be unconstitutional, negligent, reckless, insulting, a call to defy the court’s judgement, and so disrespectful of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
The Court also issued an injunction barring the ex-minister from holding any public office in Nigeria unless she repents of her actions by posting a personally signed apology letter to Nigerians and the judiciary on the front page of two national newspapers.
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.
On December 14, 2022, the NBA Incorporated Trustees took out an originating summons against Tallen, who at the time was Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, over her public comments made in respect of the judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/YL/12/2022 between Mallam Nuhu Ribadu v. All Progressives Congress (APC) & 2 Ors delivered on 14 October, 2022.
Tallen had on the 15th of October, 2022 described the court decision as “a kangaroo judgment that should be rejected by well-meaning Nigerians.”
By a letter dated November 14, 2022, the NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, wrote the minister, demanding that she withdraw the said disparaging comments and tender an unreserved and public apology to the Court. However, 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.