Sowore, NBA In War Of Words Over ‘Courtroom Press Conference’ * Your Action Grave Affront To Rule Of Law — NBA * Your Reaction Nothing But Selective Outrage – Sowore 

By Olumuyiwa Olumuyiwa 

The last has not been heard about the exchange of words that happened between the founder and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore and a Musibau Adetunbi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on the floor of the courtroom in Abuja on Tuesday.

This is as the development has continued to generate ripple of reactions between the Sowore and the Nigerian Bar Association Association.

Following the heated argument between Sowore and Adetunbi over  the propriety of holding a press briefing in a courtroom as it was done by the  Sahara Reporters publisher on Tuesday, the NBA president, Afam Osigwe, issued a press statement in support of one of its members.

The statement condemned Sowore’s action in the hallowed temple of justice in unmistakable terms, describing it as “theatrics” and “a grave affront to the rule of law”.

The lawyers’ associates stressed  that courtrooms are not  “arenas for performance, but  sanctuaries for the orderly administration of justice”.

““Any conduct that undermines the dignity of the court, intimidates legal practitioners, or disrupts proceedings constitutes a grave affront to the rule of law,” the NBA stated.

The statement added, “publicity, advocacy theatrics, or confrontation is unacceptable and inconsistent with the discipline required in judicial proceedings.”

It continued, “every Nigerian has the right to attend court proceedings, but access does not extend to converting the courtroom into a platform for press briefings or actions capable of undermining the dignity and authority of the court.”

Expressing solidarity for Musibau, the NBA added “We also call on court authorities to ensure that courtrooms remain protected spaces for the orderly administration of justice and free from acts capable of intimidating legal practitioners,”

Meanwhile, Sowore did not take the salvo fired by the NBA lying down, in a swift reaction to the association’s press statement the human rights activist described the legal body’s reaction as “selective outrage”

He said his presence at the court was to obtain a certified true copy of a ruling that struck out a cybercrime charge filed against him in January 2025 by Kayode Egbetokun, the former inspector-general of police (IGP).

“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 Muhammadu Buhari regime even though the DSS would smuggle me in and out of the court using the judge’s elevator bank,” he said.

“Where was this energy when operatives invaded a courtroom to abduct me before a sitting judge?” he asked.

“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. This is not just disappointing, it is dangerous,” Sowore  added.