The publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Mohammed Umar, for asking his lead counsel, Marshall Abubakar, to kneel down in open court during a heated session on Monday.
In a recent video from 03:33, Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Sowore described the judge’s behavior as a disgraceful display of judicial high-handedness.
The activist noted that the judge embarrassed himself by asking the lawyer to kneel down, close his eyes, and raise his hands.
Sowore said, “The judge embarrassed himself by asking our lawyer to kneel down, close his eyes and raise his hands.”
This dramatic confrontation occurred after the judge accused the defense counsel of shouting while arguing against a proposed adjournment date.
Justice Umar had reportedly pointed to a spot in the courtroom and ordered the lawyer to vacate the bar area to perform the punishment, threatening to commit him for contempt if he refused.
While other lawyers present, including the prosecution, eventually intervened to pacify the judge and prevent the physical execution of the order, Sowore insisted that the mere demand was an affront to the legal profession.
He argued that such judicial temperament suggests an environment of intimidation rather than a fair trial. Read_More…