Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has pushed back against claims by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that he turned a courtroom appearance into a media event, insisting the allegation is inaccurate and misleading.
RoundReports earlier reported that the NBA, led by its president Afam Osigwe cautioned that courtrooms should not be used as platforms for press briefings.
The warning followed an incident involving Sowore at the Federal High Court earlier in the week and was shared via the association’s official X account.
In a detailed response on his verified X handle, Sowore said he was at the court to collect certified copies of a ruling that struck out a cybercrime charge filed against him in January 2025 by the then Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
He said the registrar informed him that the judge had delayed signing the order due to unresolved motions filed by the police.
According to Sowore, while waiting for proceedings to resume, court-based journalists approached him for comment, a routine practice within the court environment.
He maintained that he did not organise a press conference but merely responded to questions, as he has done throughout previous trials, including during his 2019 treason case under the administration of late Muhammadu Buhari.
READ ALSO: NBA Condemns Sowore’s Courtroom Conduct in Abuja
Sowore also criticised what he described as “selective outrage” by the NBA, arguing that the association had previously been silent during more serious alleged breaches of courtroom sanctity involving state actors.
He further alleged intimidation by a senior lawyer during the incident, claims he said displayed a broader culture of impunity.
Court proceedings later reaffirmed the earlier decision striking out the charge, Sowore said, with an order for the release of his international passport.
He concluded that the NBA’s stance risked undermining public confidence in the legal profession if it failed to apply standards consistently.
The NBA has not issued a further response to Sowore’s latest claims.
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