Shock and anger have trailed a courtroom drama after a judge allegedly ordered a lawyer to kneel during proceedings in Abuja.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has blasted the incident, describing it as a serious breach of judicial conduct and professional dignity.
The drama happened at the Federal High Court during a case involving activist Omoyele Sowore.
His lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, was said to have raised his voice while arguing over a hearing date, leading to a tense exchange with the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar.
The judge reportedly ordered the lawyer to “come out and kneel down” in open court.
Other lawyers quickly stepped in, pleading for calm.
Moments later, the judge adjourned the case and walked out.
The NBA didn’t hold back. In a strongly worded reaction, its President, Afam Osigwe, warned that such conduct has no place in the courtroom.
“The courtroom is a temple of justice, governed by law, procedure, and decorum,” the statement read.
The association made it clear: judges have power, but not unchecked power.
“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 stressed that even contempt cases must follow due process.
“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 added.
Sowore fired back online, questioning the state of justice in the country.
“HOW DO YOU EXPECT JUSTICE IN A COUNTRY WHERE A JUDGE ORDERS A SOLID LAWYER TO KNEEL DOWN…?”
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong also weighed in, condemning the reported action.
“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.”
