Tension at Abuja Court as Judge orders Sowore’s lawyer to kneel over alleged misconduct

Drama erupted on Monday at the Federal High Court, Abuja when Justice Mohammed Umar ordered a defence counsel representing activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore to kneel in open court over what he described as unruly conduct.

The incident occurred during proceedings in the alleged cyberbullying case filed against Sowore by the Department of State Services (DSS), following statements he reportedly made concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Presiding over the matter, Justice Umar took exception to repeated loud interruptions from defence counsel, Marshall Abubakar, who was addressing the court during arguments over the next hearing date.

At the peak of the confrontation, the judge warned the lawyer against further outbursts and summoned him forward.

“If you shout in this court again, I will commit you for contempt. In fact, come here! Come and kneel down here!” the judge said, directing him to a spot before the bench.

The order triggered immediate reactions, with several lawyers rising to plead for leniency.

The situation was eventually defused after senior counsel, including prosecuting lawyer Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), intervened and urged the court to temper justice with mercy. Their appeals led to a de-escalation of tensions in the courtroom.

The confrontation stemmed from disagreements on the next steps after the prosecution closed its case.

While the prosecution asked the defence to open its case immediately, Abubakar informed the court that the defence intended to file a no-case submission — a legal move arguing that the evidence presented does not warrant a defence.

He requested an adjournment until July to prepare the submission.

Prosecutor Kehinde opposed the request, describing it as a tactic to delay proceedings and urging the court to adopt an accelerated timetable.

Justice Umar noted that the prosecution had conducted its case promptly, whereas the defence had taken significantly longer, including spending four days cross-examining a single witness.

He subsequently fixed April 13, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses on the no-case submission.

Abubakar objected to the date, insisting it was not convenient. The situation escalated further when Sowore, speaking from the witness box, attempted to explain how the date could clash with his party’s primaries while his lawyer was simultaneously addressing the court.

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“This court belongs to all of us. This court is not for some people alone. It belongs to all of us,” Abubakar said loudly.

Repeated efforts by the judge to restore order failed, prompting the threat of contempt and the directive for the lawyer to kneel.

Earlier in the session, the court addressed concerns raised by the prosecution that Sowore had brought a recording device into the dock.

Sowore denied the allegation, stating he only had his glasses, mobile phone and a power bank. Justice Umar reiterated the court’s standing order prohibiting defendants from bringing electronic gadgets into the dock and directed that the items be handed over to court officials.

In another development, Abubakar informed the court that he had received late notice of the sitting and did not have the case file with him because he had been engaged in another matter. He requested a stand-down to retrieve the documents.

Upon resumption, the defence counsel proceeded to cross-examine the sole prosecution witness, DSS operative Cyril Nosike, for about two hours. Several newspaper publications were tendered as exhibits during the session.

Justice Umar later adjourned the case to April 13, 2026, for further proceedings, including the adoption of written addresses on the no-case submission.

The courtroom drama underscores the high tension surrounding the case, which has drawn public attention due to Sowore’s political activism and longstanding confrontations with state authorities.