The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the actions of activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court, Abuja, describing his conduct as a disruption of courtroom decorum.
The incident occurred when Sowore reportedly attempted to address journalists inside the courtroom, leading to a confrontation with Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), who objected to the move and insisted that the courtroom was not a venue for press briefings.
In a statement signed by its President, Afam Osigwe, the NBA acknowledged that courtrooms are open to the public in a democracy but stressed that proceedings must be conducted with discipline, restraint, and respect for judicial authority. The association said Sowore’s actions—setting up what appeared to be a media engagement and addressing national issues inside the courtroom—were inappropriate and undermined the dignity of the court.
The NBA emphasized that while citizens have the right to attend court sessions, this does not extend to turning the courtroom into a platform for publicity or advocacy theatrics. It described such conduct as a grave affront to the rule of law and expressed solidarity with Adetunbi and other legal practitioners who upheld courtroom order.
The association also called on court authorities to ensure courtrooms remain secure and orderly spaces for the administration of justice.
