Drama in Court as power drunk Judge orders Sowere, Lawyer to kneel down for making noise

Proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja were briefly disrupted on Monday following a tense exchange between Justice Mohammed Umar and a defence lawyer during the trial of human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore is currently being prosecuted by the Department of State Services over allegations linked to comments made about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The situation escalated after the defence team requested a longer adjournment, following the prosecution’s indication that it had closed its case — a move that appeared to irritate the presiding judge.

During the hearing, Sowore told the court he intended to continue travelling across Nigeria to mobilise politically ahead of the 2027 general election.

Lead prosecutor, Adeolu Kehinde (SAN), attempted to interrupt him, prompting Sowore’s lead counsel, Marshal Abubakar, to rise in response.

Abubakar, in a passionate submission, argued that his client’s political stance reflected broader ideological concerns and alleged that the prosecution was aimed at silencing him and limiting his political participation.

Justice Umar, who had earlier cautioned against further arguments, reacted by ordering the lawyer to step forward and kneel as punishment for what he described as contempt of court.

However, Abubakar declined the directive, insisting that such an order was not recognised under Nigerian law.

His refusal heightened tension in the courtroom, prompting other lawyers to intervene and appeal for calm.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case to April 13, 2026, despite objections from the defence, which described the date as inconvenient.

The incident has since drawn attention within legal circles, raising questions about courtroom conduct and the limits of judicial authority.

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