The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned against turning courtrooms into venues for media briefings, stressing that such actions undermine the dignity and purpose of the judicial system.
NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), issued the caution on Wednesday in a statement following an incident involving human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Osigwe emphasised that while courtrooms are open to the public to promote transparency and accountability, they are not platforms for performances or media engagements.
“Courtrooms are sanctuaries for the orderly administration of justice, not arenas for publicity or theatrics,” he stated, adding that access to such spaces must be exercised with discipline, decorum, and respect for judicial authority.
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According to the NBA, Sowore reportedly entered the courtroom on Tuesday accompanied by individuals carrying recording devices and appeared to set up for a press briefing.
The situation escalated when he allegedly addressed national issues from within the courtroom despite his case not being scheduled for hearing.
The development reportedly caused tension, leading to a confrontation with Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), who objected to the conduct and insisted on maintaining courtroom decorum.
The association condemned the incident, noting that any action capable of disrupting proceedings, intimidating legal practitioners, or diminishing the authority of the court constitutes a serious breach of legal ethics and the rule of law.
While reaffirming that all Nigerians have the right to observe court proceedings, the NBA stressed that such rights do not extend to transforming courtrooms into platforms for advocacy displays or media briefings.
The body expressed solidarity with Adetunbi and other legal practitioners who upheld professional standards during the incident and called on court authorities to ensure that judicial spaces remain protected from disruptions.
Reiterating its stance, the NBA said it would continue to defend the sanctity of the legal profession and maintain that courtrooms must remain spaces of order, respect, and disciplined legal engagement not spectacle or confrontation.
