The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a strong rebuke after activist Omoyele Sowore attempted what appeared to be a press briefing inside a Federal High Court courtroom in Abuja, an action the association says violates the standards of conduct expected within judicial spaces.
The incident occurred on March 24, 2026, when Sowore arrived at the court with several individuals carrying recording devices. According to the NBA, the group set up in a manner similar to a media engagement, prompting objections from legal practitioners present.
In its statement, the NBA said Sowore’s team entered the courtroom with camera phones and recording equipment and began preparing for what looked like a press interaction. The association noted that members of his team adjusted his appearance and created a setup “akin to a broadcast setting,” even though his matter was not listed for hearing and he had no lawyer with him at the time.
The situation reportedly escalated when Sowore moved to the inner bar, sat on a table, and started addressing cameras on what he called national issues. His action drew immediate objection from Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, who insisted the courtroom could not be used for such activity.
Quoting its position, the NBA emphasised: “Courtrooms in a constitutional democracy are open to the public not as arenas for performance, but as sanctuaries for the orderly administration of justice.”
It stressed that the openness of the courtroom must not be misinterpreted as permission to host activities unrelated to adjudication, warning that such conduct undermines the dignity of the court.
The statement continued: “Any conduct that undermines the dignity of the court, intimidates legal practitioners, or disrupts proceedings constitutes a grave affront to the rule of law.”
The association also reminded the public that attendance at court does not grant anyone the right to convert the courtroom into a platform for publicity or confrontation. It added: “Public access to the courts does not extend to converting the courtroom into a platform for press briefings or actions capable of undermining the dignity and authority of the court, whether or not the court is in session.”
The NBA expressed support for Adetunbi, SAN, and other lawyers who stepped in to maintain order during the episode. It also urged court authorities to ensure that courtrooms remain secure and free from conduct capable of distracting or intimidating legal practitioners while they work.
Reaffirming its commitment to preserving courtroom integrity, the NBA said: “The courtroom must remain a place of order, respect, disciplined advocacy, and responsible public access, not spectacle, confrontation, or disorder.”
The statement was signed by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
