Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and former presidential candidate, has responded to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) by denying that he set up a press conference in court.
Afam Osigwe (SAN), the president of the NBA, said today that courtrooms should not be exploited as a place for media briefings.
Osigwe sent out the warning in a statement on the association’s official X account in response to something that happened to Sowore yesterday.
Sowore responded to the NBA and its President on his verified X account, saying, “I have read the statement from the leaders of the Nigerian Bar Association, and I must say this is yet another sad day for democracy in Nigeria.” I get that the NBA may feel like it has to protect one of its own, but that protection can’t be based on lies.
“The truth is important, especially coming from an organization that says it stands for fairness, justice, and the rule of law. The NBA and its president lied when they said that I had a news conference in court on a day when my case was not scheduled. This is not right.
“I went to the Federal High Court to get the Certified True Copy of a ruling and order that threw out a baseless cybercrime charge against me in January 2025 by the then-illegal IGP, Kayode Egbetokun.”
Sowore said that when he got there, the court registrar told him that the judge had refused to sign the order because the police had surreptitiously filed an ex parte move to relist the case. Then, for some reason, they filed another motion to withdraw that same ex parte application.
He stated they were told that Justice M.S. Liman would only sign the verdict after dealing with those motions. Because of this, they objected “this irregularity” and were advised to wait for the court to continue sitting. While I was waiting, reporters from the Federal High Court came up to me, as they often do, and asked for remarks.
Sowore said he had to do it because he knows it’s the right thing to do. He also noted that these journalists are part of the court environment and can talk to lawyers, litigants, and observers without any problems.
Sowore added, “Even Mr. @afamosigwe SAN himself saw a courtroom full of media on my first day of trial.”
“I didn’t set up any press conference.” I answered questions, just like I always have, even during my treason trial in 2019 under the @MBuhari dictatorship, when the @OfficialDSSNG would sneak me in and out of court using the judge’s elevator bank.
“The NBA’s selective outrage is worrisome.” When @OfficialDSSNG operatives stormed a courthouse to take me away in front of a judge, where was this energy? Where was the defense of the court’s integrity when state officials broke court rulings over and over again and stomped on people’s rights?
“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.”
Sowore further added that it is vital to remember that court records will reflect that his case was in front of the court, with both the police lawyer and his own lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, present.
He said that following the trial, the judge reaffirmed his decision to throw out the case and ordered the release of his international passport, which had been wrongfully taken.
Sowore said, “The attempts by some lawyers, including Senior Advocate Musbau, to scare and harass us in court by making threats, trying to break things, and even calling the police only show how the culture of impunity is growing.”
“The police didn’t find any misconduct, but I understand that even Musbau did. At the end of the meeting, SAN didn’t expect what this instructive moment would bring. So, this isn’t a surprise.
He said that the NBA can’t say it supports the rule of law while disregarding abuses by strong government officials and spreading false stories about the victims of those violations.
“This is not only disappointing, it’s also dangerous.” The NBA needs to start being honest, consistent, and brave, not just angry when it wants to safeguard the credibility of the courts and the legal profession. Sowore also said, “This is another sad day for democracy in Nigeria.”
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