Sowore Rebukes Nigerian Bar Association Over Statement on Court Incident

Human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has faulted the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), accusing it of issuing a misleading account of events surrounding his recent appearance at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a detailed response on Monday, Sowore criticised the NBA and its President, Afam Osigwe, saying their statement represented “another sad day for democracy in Nigeria.”

According to him, the NBA’s claim that he staged a press conference on a day his case was not listed was “false and irresponsible.” He explained that he had visited the court to obtain the Certified True Copy of a ruling striking out a cybercrime charge filed against him in January 2025 by former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.

Sowore said he was informed by court officials that the presiding judge, Justice M.S. Liman, had delayed signing the ruling because the Nigeria Police Force had secretly filed an ex parte motion to relist the case—followed by another motion withdrawing the application. He described the development as irregular and said he protested alongside his legal team, including his counsel, Marshal Abubakar.

While waiting for the judge to resume, Sowore said journalists attached to the court approached him for comments, a routine practice he insisted was not a press conference. He referenced previous high-profile trials, including his 2019 treason case during the Department of State Services detention saga, where media presence was constant.

Sowore accused the NBA of selective outrage, questioning why the association did not speak with similar urgency during past violations of his rights—particularly when DSS operatives stormed a courtroom to rearrest him during the Muhammadu Buhari Administration.

He also alleged that Senior Advocate of Nigeria Musbau Akinlami acted “recklessly” during the incident, claiming the lawyer attempted to intimidate him, destroy media equipment, and even involved police officers who found no wrongdoing.

Sowore noted that court records confirmed that both prosecution and defence counsel were present in court and that Justice Liman eventually reaffirmed his ruling striking out the case and ordered the release of his seized international passport.

He concluded that the NBA cannot claim to defend the rule of law “while ignoring abuses by powerful state actors and amplifying misleading narratives,” insisting that integrity requires “honesty, consistency, and courage, not selective outrage.”

OYO NEWS