ABUJA — A Federal High Court judge lost his composure Monday during proceedings in the high-profile trial of human rights activist and online publisher Omoyele Sowore, ordering his defence counsel to kneel before the court in an extraordinary courtroom confrontation.
Justice Mohammed Umar made the demand after growing visibly frustrated with Sowore’s lead counsel, Marshal Abubakar, who had risen to deliver what witnesses described as a passionate defence of his client’s right to political participation.
Abubakar had argued that the Federal Government was prosecuting Sowore with the intent of imprisoning him ahead of the 2027 general elections, effectively silencing one of its most vocal critics. He contended that the progressive, leftist ideas Sowore represents were vital to Nigeria’s future. The judge, who had repeatedly asked Abubakar to sit down, ultimately snapped — ordering the lawyer to step forward and kneel as punishment for what he characterised as contempt of court. Abubakar refused.
In a firm but measured response, the lawyer told the court that compelling a counsel to kneel before a judge had no basis in Nigerian law and could not constitute a lawful sanction. His defiance prompted immediate alarm among those present, with several lawyers in attendance rising to appeal for calm. The tension had begun earlier in the session when Sowore’s legal team requested a longer adjournment after the prosecution announced it had closed its case. The request appeared to irritate the judge.
The situation escalated further when Sowore himself addressed the court, declaring that he would continue travelling across Nigeria to mobilise opposition against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections — a statement that prompted lead prosecutor Adeolu Kehinde, SAN, to quickly move to interrupt him. Justice Umar ultimately adjourned the case to April 13, 2026, over the objections of defence lawyers, who argued the date was inconvenient.
Sowore, the founder of the news platform Sahara Reporters, is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services on charges of cyberstalking and defamation. The case, which commenced in late 2025, stems from social media posts in which he referred to President Tinubu as a “criminal.” The prosecution argues the posts violated Nigeria’s cybercrime statutes.
Sowore and his supporters maintain the case is politically motivated and represents an attempt to criminalise free speech and suppress dissent ahead of the next electoral cycle.
