The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned an incident at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Mohammed Umar allegedly ordered a lawyer, Barrister Marshall D.F. Abubakar, to kneel during court proceedings, a directive the association described as unlawful and inconsistent with Nigeria’s judicial standards.
According to the NBA, the reported altercation occurred on Monday during the criminal trial of activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, when Abubakar, serving as lead defence counsel, engaged in a disagreement with the judge over a hearing date and was allegedly directed to kneel for raising his voice.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), said the association views the development “with utmost seriousness,” stressing that such conduct undermines the dignity of the legal profession. “The courtroom is a temple of justice, governed by law, procedure, and decorum,” Osigwe stated. “While judges possess authority to maintain order, such power must be exercised within the bounds of law.”
He added that directing any person to kneel in court is not a recognised judicial sanction in Nigeria. “If a judge believes an individual is in contempt, there are defined procedures for addressing such matters. Arbitrary actions like ordering someone to kneel violate due process and judicial ethics,” Osigwe said.
The NBA also cautioned lawyers to maintain professionalism in court, urging mutual respect between the Bar and the Bench to protect the integrity of the justice system.
Reacting to the development, Omoyele Sowore took to social media to condemn what he described as “courtroom humiliation” and a “disgraceful abuse of power” within Nigeria’s judiciary. He alleged that the incident occurred after his counsel insisted on cross-examining a Department of State Services (DSS) witness whom he called “fake.”
“How do you expect justice in a country where a judge orders a solid lawyer to kneel down for insisting on cross-examining a fake witness presented by the DSS?” Sowore wrote, praising Abubakar for standing his ground despite alleged intimidation.
He further accused the judiciary of enabling misconduct and criticised the NBA for what he termed “selective activism.” “You will never hear the Nigerian Bar Association do anything about this. They only care about tinted glass permits!” he added.
Reports from the trial indicate that the courtroom exchange forced Justice Umar to adjourn proceedings abruptly after the standoff. Sowore’s trial, which concerns charges by the DSS over alleged defamation and cyberstalking of President Bola Tinubu, continues amid growing public scrutiny of judicial independence and professional conduct within Nigerian courts.
The NBA has called for calm and pledged to engage relevant authorities to ensure the rule of law and judicial ethics are upheld.