Courtroom tension as Omoyele Sowore disputes SAN over media briefing

A mild drama played out at the Federal High Court when activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, engaged in a heated exchange with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) over attempts to address journalists within the courtroom.

The incident, which has since gone viral through a widely circulated video, captured the senior lawyer confronting Sowore alongside members of the press, insisting that the courtroom was not an appropriate setting for media interactions.

According to the SAN, the sanctity of the courtroom must be preserved strictly for judicial proceedings, warning against turning it into a venue for press briefings.

Sowore, however, strongly disagreed with the position. He argued that the courtroom, as a place where justice is dispensed, should not preclude open engagement with the media, particularly while parties await the commencement or continuation of proceedings.

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He maintained that there is no explicit legal provision forbidding individuals from speaking to journalists inside the courtroom under such circumstances.

Describing his actions as a demonstration of transparency and accountability, Sowore insisted that engaging the press at that moment was both respectful and appropriate, especially in the absence of ongoing court activity.

The SAN, drawing on his decades of legal experience, dismissed the argument, noting that such conduct runs contrary to established courtroom decorum and long-standing legal traditions.

“I have practised for close to three decades and have never seen this happen,” the lawyer stated, urging journalists present to move any form of media engagement outside the courtroom.

Reinforcing his stance, the senior advocate referenced provisions within the Federal High Court’s procedural framework, emphasizing that the courtroom must remain exclusively dedicated to judicial business. “The court must serve as a venue of justice, not a conference,” he said.

The exchange highlights the delicate balance between media engagement and courtroom protocol, sparking renewed debate over the boundaries of press interaction within judicial environments.