What the data shows
The recent courtroom incident involving Omoyele Sowore raises significant questions about judicial conduct in Nigeria. During a court session, Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, to kneel in open court, a directive that has been widely condemned as a violation of judicial standards.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has publicly denounced the judge’s actions, stating that no judge has the authority under Nigerian law to compel a lawyer to kneel in court. This incident has ignited widespread outrage within Nigeria’s legal community, with many arguing that such behavior undermines the integrity of the judicial system.
Sowore, a prominent activist and critic of the Nigerian government, is currently facing charges from the Department of State Services for allegedly calling President Bola Tinubu a ‘criminal’. The case against him was originally filed on December 5, 2025, and has since been amended, leaving Sowore as the sole defendant. Following the amendment, the number of counts against him was reduced from five to two.
In response to the judge’s directive, Sowore expressed his disbelief, questioning how justice can be expected in a country where a judge orders a lawyer to kneel for insisting on cross-examining a witness. His comments reflect a growing concern among legal practitioners regarding the erosion of judicial standards in Nigeria.
The NBA emphasized that the courtroom should be viewed as a ‘temple of justice, governed by law, procedure, and decorum’. They reiterated that while judges have the authority to maintain order in their courts, such authority must be exercised within the bounds of the law and established judicial standards.
The incident has prompted calls for calm from the NBA, urging that grievances be addressed through appropriate institutional mechanisms rather than through public outcry. The case has been adjourned to April 13 for the adoption of final written addresses, leaving many in the legal community anxious about the implications of this incident on judicial conduct moving forward.
As the legal proceedings continue, the situation remains tense, with many observers keenly watching how the judiciary will respond to the criticisms leveled against it. The outcome of Sowore’s trial and the broader implications for judicial standards in Nigeria remain uncertain.