For allegedly ordering Omoyele Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, to kneel during a court session in Abuja, Nigeria’s legal body, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has slammed Justice Mohammed Umar of an Abuja Federal High Court.
The incident, sparked by a heated exchange over trial dates, saw the judge threaten Abubakar with contempt before issuing the “kneeling” order—a move the NBA describes as a threat to the dignity of the bench and bar.
Following the intervention of other lawyers present, Justice Umar adjourned the cyber-offense trial and exited the courtroom, according to a Channels TV report.
NBA President Afam Osigwe has since called for a strict adherence to courtroom decorum, highlighting that such disciplinary measures have no place in a modern legal system.
“The courtroom is a temple of justice, governed by law, procedure, and decorum,” the statement said, 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 said.
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.
Stressing that mutual respect between lawyers and judges is vital for justice, the NBA called for calm following the incident.
The association insisted that courtroom disputes should be settled via official disciplinary mechanisms rather than public confrontation.
Reacting to the viral report, Omoyele Sowore questioned the integrity of the nation’s legal system in a pointed post on X.
“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 restated its commitment to upholding the rule of law, professional standards, and judicial ethics, adding that it would engage relevant authorities where necessary to ensure that the integrity of the legal system is preserved.
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