 |
| Omoyele Sowore |
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has fiercely condemned Justice Mohammed Umar for allegedly ordering a lawyer to kneel in court, calling it a blatant violation of judicial standards and the legal profession’s dignity.
The shocking incident unfolded during a Federal High Court session in Abuja, where Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting activist Omoyele Sowore on cybercrime charges.
Channels Television reported that the judge warned defence lead counsel Marshall Abubakar over his tone while arguing for a suitable hearing date. When Abubakar raised his voice, Justice Umar reportedly thundered: “Come out and kneel down” in open court.
Fellow lawyers quickly intervened, begging for mercy, before the judge adjourned proceedings and left the bench.
In a Monday, March 16, 2026 statement by NBA President Afam Osigwe, the association expressed deep alarm over the episode. It highlighted how the judge’s threat of contempt proceedings after the verbal clash undermines courtroom decorum and due process.
The NBA urged a review to safeguard the rule of law.
“The courtroom is a temple of justice, governed by law, procedure, and decorum,” the statement read, stressing that judicial authority must always be exercised within established legal limits.
While acknowledging that judges are empowered to maintain order and discipline, the NBA emphasised that such powers are not absolute.
“A judge directing a legal practitioner or indeed any person whatsoever to kneel in court is not a recognised judicial sanction under our laws and does not align with the standards of judicial conduct expected on the Bench,” the association stated.
It further noted that although the power to punish for contempt is well recognised, it is governed by clearly defined procedures designed to ensure fairness, objectivity, and respect for the rights and dignity of all parties.
“If a judge is of the view that a person has acted in a manner that is contemptuous of the court, the judge MUST follow the accepted way of conducting proceedings for such allegations,” the NBA added.
The association also reminded lawyers of their professional responsibilities, urging them to maintain restraint and decorum in court at all times.
“While lawyers are entitled, indeed obligated, to advocate firmly and fearlessly on behalf of their clients, such advocacy must always be exercised within the bounds of courtesy and decorum. Disagreements with the court, no matter how strongly felt, must be expressed through proper legal channels,” it said.
The NBA stressed that the relationship between the Bar and the Bench is fundamental to the administration of justice and must be guided by mutual respect. It called for calm and urged that any grievances arising from courtroom incidents be addressed through appropriate institutional and disciplinary mechanisms.
Reacting to the development, Sowore criticised the incident in a post on X, questioning the state of justice in the country.
“How do you expect justice in a country where a judge orders a solid lawyer to kneel down…?” he wrote, adding that the lawyer stood his ground during the exchange.
Also commenting, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong described the reported directive as unacceptable, saying, “Corporal punishment has no place in the temple of justice. It is better to be imprisoned as a lawyer than to be compelled to kneel right in the courtroom.”
The NBA reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law, professional standards, and judicial ethics, noting that it would engage relevant authorities where necessary to ensure that the integrity of the legal system is preserved.#
0 comments:
Post a Comment