NBA President Condemns Sowore's Courtroom Press Briefing as Affront to Rule of Law
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, has issued a stern warning against using courtrooms as platforms for media briefings, describing such actions as a grave affront to the rule of law. This statement comes in direct response to a controversial incident involving human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Incident at Federal High Court Sparks Controversy
The controversy erupted when Sowore entered the courtroom accompanied by individuals carrying camera phones and recording equipment, proceeding to set up what appeared to be preparations for a press conference within the courtroom itself. Video footage from the incident showed Sowore clashing with Senior Advocate of Nigeria Musibau Adetunbi, who objected to the activist holding a press briefing inside the court.
Adetunbi insisted that courtrooms must be respected and that Sowore should take any media interactions outside if he wished to conduct press briefings. Sowore countered by arguing that no law prohibits him or any Nigerian from speaking to the press inside a courtroom. Notably, Sowore's case was not listed for hearing on that day, and he was not accompanied by any legal practitioner during this episode.
NBA's Official Statement Expresses Grave Concern
In a strongly worded statement released by the NBA, President Afam Osigwe expressed "grave concern" over the incident, emphasizing that courtrooms in a constitutional democracy are open to the public not as arenas for performance, but as sanctuaries for the orderly administration of justice.
"Courtrooms are solemn spaces dedicated to the administration of justice. Any conduct that undermines the dignity of the court constitutes a grave affront to the rule of law," the statement declared. It further added that using a courtroom as a venue for publicity, advocacy theatrics, or confrontation is "unacceptable" and inconsistent with the discipline required in judicial proceedings.
Key Points from the NBA Statement
- Courtrooms exist solely for adjudication and their openness cannot be stretched to permit activities unrelated to that purpose
- While every Nigerian has the right to attend and observe court proceedings, this right must be exercised responsibly with due regard to courtroom decorum
- Public access to courts does not extend to converting courtrooms into platforms for press briefings or actions capable of undermining judicial dignity and authority
- The NBA condemns Sowore's disruption of the courtroom environment and expresses solidarity with Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, and all lawyers who insisted on maintaining decorum
Call for Courtroom Protection and Professional Respect
The NBA statement called on court authorities to ensure that courtrooms remain protected spaces for the orderly administration of justice and free from acts capable of intimidating legal practitioners in the discharge of their professional duties. Osigwe emphasized that the NBA will continue to defend the dignity of the legal profession and the sanctity of judicial proceedings.
"The courtroom must remain a place of order, respect, disciplined advocacy, and responsible public access, not spectacle, confrontation, or disorder," the statement concluded, underscoring the fundamental principles that govern proper conduct within judicial spaces.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions between activist expression and judicial decorum in Nigeria's legal system, raising important questions about the boundaries of public access to courtrooms and the preservation of judicial dignity in a democratic society.
