Ex-judge, NBA back SAN for stopping Sowore’s courtroom interview
By Udeh Onyebuchi The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and a former judge have backed Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, for halting an attempted courtroom interview by activist Omoyele Sowore at the Federal
By Udeh Onyebuchi
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and a former judge have backed Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, for halting an attempted courtroom interview by activist Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The incident, which occurred on March 24, sparked tension within the courtroom after Sowore reportedly entered with associates carrying recording devices and appeared to prepare for a media conference within the courtroom.
In a statement, NBA President, Afam Osigwe, described courtrooms as spaces strictly reserved for the administration of justice, warning against their use for “publicity, advocacy theatrics, or confrontation.”
According to the NBA, Sowore moved into the inner bar, sat on a table, and began addressing “a range of national issues” while cameras were trained on him, despite his case not being scheduled for hearing.
The association noted that the situation disrupted courtroom order and led to a confrontation with Adetunbi, who insisted on maintaining decorum.
“The courtroom exists solely for adjudication, and its openness cannot be stretched to permit activities unrelated to that purpose,” Osigwe stated, adding that while public access to courts is guaranteed, it must be exercised with restraint and respect for judicial authority.
The NBA condemned what it described as a disruption of the courtroom environment and expressed solidarity with Adetunbi and other lawyers who insisted on maintaining decorum.
It 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 reaffirmed it commitment to 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.
Backing the NBA’s position, former Federal High Court judge, Taiwo Taiwo, said court premises are “sacrosanct” and designated solely for the dispensation of justice.
Taiwo argued that public buildings, including courts, are created for specific purposes adding that no one is at liberty to hold a press conference in any public building if the administrators of that building does not permit.
“You cannot hold a press conference inside a police station, a state house, a military barracks, or offices of security agencies as a citizen. The same applies to courtrooms,” he said, stressing that such actions undermine the dignity of the judiciary.
He further noted that judges, by tradition and constitutional role, communicate only through their rulings and judgments, not through public engagements or media briefings.
The ex-judge warned against what he described as a growing tendency to stretch the interpretation of fundamental human rights beyond reasonable limits, cautioning that such actions could erode public confidence in the judicial system.
