Human Rights Activist and Founder of Sahara Reporters, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, has stated that the claim by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that he staged a press conference in court on a day his case was listed was incorrect.
Sowore said while the association may feel compelled to defend one of its own, such defence must not be built on falsehoods. Noting that truth matters especially from an institution that claims to uphold fairness, justice and the rule of law.
The leadership of NBA had earlier accused Sowore for staging a Media Briefing inside the courtroom at Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, even when his case was not listed for hearing or accompanied by any legal practitioner, leading to tension within the courtroom and a confrontation with learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, who objected to the conduct and insisted on maintaining courtroom decorum.
In his response, on Wednesday via his official X handle, Sowore explained that he was present at the Federal High Court to obtain the Certified True Copy of a ruling and order striking out a baseless cybercrime charge filed against him in January 2025 by the then Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun.
He disclosed that upon arrival, the court registrar informed him that the judge had declined to sign the order because the Police had secretly filed an ex parte motion to relist the case, and then curiously filed another motion to withdraw that same ex parte application.
“We were told that Justice M.S. Liman would only sign the ruling after addressing those motions. We protested this irregularity and were asked to wait for the judge to resume sitting,” Sowore said.
According to him, while waiting, media personnel attached to the Federal High Court approached him as they routinely do and requested comments, clarifying that he did not organise any press conference.
“I obliged. This is standard practice. These journalists are part of the court environment; they interact freely with lawyers, litigants, and observers. Even Mr. osigwe SAN himself witnessed a courtroom filled with media during my first day of trial.
“I did not organize any press conference. I responded to questions, as I have done consistently over the years, including during my 2019 treason trial under the Buhari regime even though the DSS would smuggle me in and out of the court using the judge’s elevator bank,” he noted.
Sowore said the NBA’s selective outrage was troubling, questioning why the NBA did not use the same energy when the DSS operatives invaded a courtroom to abduct him before a sitting judge.
“Where was the defense of the sanctity of the court when state actors repeatedly violated court orders and trampled on the rights of citizens? Instead, we now see an attempt to distort facts and shield misconduct by a senior member of the bar, Musbau Akinlami, SAN who acted recklessly with impunity.
“It is also important to note that court records will show that my case was indeed before the court, with both the police counsel and my lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, present.
“After proceedings, the judge reaffirmed his decision striking out the case and ordered the release of my international passport, which had been unjustly seized.
“The attempt by some lawyers, including Senior Advocate Musbau, to intimidate and harass us in court, issuing threats, attempting to destroy equipment, and even calling the police, only underscores the growing culture of impunity. The police themselves found no wrongdoing, but I understand that even Musbau. SAN didn’t bargain for what this teachable moment presented at the end of the encounter. So, no surprises here about this,” he said.
Sowore said the NBA cannot claim to defend the rule of law while ignoring abuses by powerful state actors and amplifying misleading narratives against victims of those abuses.
Noting that if the NBA truly seeks to protect the integrity of the legal profession and the courts, it must begin with honesty, consistency, and courage. not selective outrage.
