Sowore court drama unfolds as a Federal High Court judge orders his lawyer to kneel over misconduct during DSS cyberbullying case proceedings

Drama erupted at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday as Justice Mohammed Umar ordered counsel to activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore to kneel in open court over alleged misconduct during proceedings in a cyberbullying case filed by the Department of State Services.

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The incident occurred during the hearing of the case instituted against Omoyele Sowore following claims he made against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Justice Mohammed Umar issued the directive after defence counsel, Marshall Abubakar, repeatedly raised his voice while addressing the court, despite warnings to maintain decorum.

“If you shout in this court again, I will commit you for contempt. In fact, come here! Come and kneel down here!” the judge said, drawing stunned reactions from lawyers present.

Several senior lawyers immediately intervened, urging the court to temper justice with mercy. Among them was prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), whose appeal helped to defuse the tense situation.

The confrontation stemmed from disagreements over the next hearing date after the prosecution formally closed its case.

While the prosecution pressed for the defence to open its case, Marshall Abubakar indicated plans to file a no-case submission and requested an adjournment until July.

Akinlolu Kehinde opposed the request, describing it as a delay tactic and urging the court to adopt a faster schedule.

Justice Mohammed Umar noted that although the prosecution had handled its case expeditiously, the defence had spent four days cross-examining a single witness, a development he considered excessive.

The court subsequently fixed April 13, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses on the no-case submission.

The decision did not sit well with the defence counsel, who insisted the date was inconvenient, further intensifying the Sowore court drama.

Tensions escalated when Omoyele Sowore, speaking from the witness box, attempted to address the court on how the scheduled date could affect his party’s primaries, while his lawyer simultaneously made submissions.

“This court belongs to all of us. This court is not for some people alone,” Marshall Abubakar said loudly, prompting further warnings from the bench.

Efforts by Justice Mohammed Umar to restore order proved unsuccessful, leading to the threat of contempt proceedings and the dramatic order for the lawyer to kneel.

Earlier, the court addressed concerns raised by the prosecution that Omoyele Sowore had a recording device in the dock.

The defendant denied the claim, stating he only had personal items, including his glasses, phone and power bank.

Justice Mohammed Umar reiterated an earlier directive prohibiting defendants from bringing gadgets into the dock and ordered that the items be handed over to court officials.

In another development, Marshall Abubakar informed the court he had only been notified of the sitting shortly before proceedings and was not in possession of the case file, having been engaged in another matter.

He requested a stand-down to retrieve the file, which was eventually granted.

Upon resumption, the defence counsel cross-examined the sole prosecution witness, Cyril Nosike, a DSS operative, for about two hours, tendering several newspaper publications as exhibits.

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Justice Mohammed Umar later adjourned the matter to April 13, 2026, for further proceedings, bringing a dramatic session marked by sharp exchanges and courtroom tension to a close.