- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, over his altercations with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who challenged him for holding a press conference within the courtroom.
NPO Reported that Sowore had yesterday caused drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja as he confronted the senior lawyer identified as Musibau Adetunbi (SAN) for alleged intimidation.
The clash started after Adetunbi interrupted Sowore’s press briefing session with the court room.
The lawyer urged the newsmen and the activist who was sitting on court’s desk to vacate the court room and hold their briefing outside.
Sowore would in response challenged the lawyer as he held that the court room is a public space.
The newsmen also refused to leave the chamber as they accused Adetunbi of attempt to silence the Press.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, the NBA President, Afam Osigwe, slammed the conduct of Sowore in the court room.
While acknowledging the fact that courtrooms are open to the public, Osigiwe. in the statement posted on his X handle, maintained that hallowed chamber is not a place for performances and theatrics.
He harped on the need to maintain the decorum, discipline and respect for judicial authorities within the courtroom
“Courtrooms in a constitutional democracy are open to the public not as arenas for performance, but as sanctuaries for the orderly administration of justice.
“Their openness promotes transparency and public confidence, yet it also imposes a duty of restraint on all who enter. Access to the courtroom is therefore a right exercised within boundaries of decorum, discipline, and respect for judicial authority.
“The courtroom exists solely for adjudication, and its openness cannot be stretched to permit activities unrelated to that purpose.” Osigwe said.
While recounting the incident, the NBA President said the conduct of Sowore, whose case was not listed for hearing to have warranted his presence in the court yesterday, is unacceptable and inconsistent with the judicial proceedings’ discipline.
“Notably, Mr. Sowore’s case was not listed for hearing, and he was not accompanied by any legal practitioner during this episode.
“The development led to tension within the courtroom and a confrontation with learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, who objected to the conduct and insisted on maintaining courtroom decorum.
“Courtrooms are solemn spaces dedicated to the administration of justice. 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 use of a courtroom as a venue for publicity, advocacy theatrics, or confrontation is unacceptable and inconsistent with the discipline required in judicial proceedings.” He said.
Osigwe further maintained that 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.
While condemning the activist’s conduct, the NBA boss expressed the association’s solidarity with Adetunbi.
He thereafter charged court authorities to ensure protection of the court premises for orderly administration of justice.
“The NBA therefore condemns Mr. Sowore’s disruption of the courtroom environment and expresses solidarity with Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, and all lawyers who insisted on maintaining decorum.
“We also call 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.
“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.” Osiwge added.