A dramatic confrontation unfolded at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, March 16, 2026, as Justice Mohammed Umar ordered lead defense counsel Marshal Abubakar to kneel in open court during the cyberbullying trial of activist Omoyele Sowore.
The trial of Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore took a chaotic turn on Monday when Justice Mohammed Umar lost his temper with defense lawyer Marshal Abubakar. The friction began after the Department of State Services (DSS) closed its case following the cross-examination of its sole witness, a DSS operative. Abubakar had requested an adjournment until July 2026 to file a no-case submission, a move the judge and lead prosecutor Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) dismissed as a “dilatory tactic.” Tensions peaked when Abubakar raised his voice to protest an April 13 adjournment date, leading Justice Umar to bellow, “If you shout in this court again, I will commit you for contempt. In fact, come here! Come and kneel down here!”
Abubakar reportedly refused the order to kneel, maintaining a firm but respectful stance that such a punishment was illegal and beneath the dignity of the bar. The courtroom fell into a stunned silence before other senior lawyers present intervened, pleading with the judge to overlook the younger counsel’s “errant” behavior. Amidst the heated exchange, Sowore—who is being prosecuted for allegedly calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” in a 2025 social media post—attempted to address the court from the dock. He argued that the April trial date would interfere with his party’s upcoming primaries, further fueling the judge’s irritation.
Before rising for the day, Justice Umar formally adjourned the matter to April 13, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses on the defense’s no-case submission. Earlier in the session, the court had also dealt with a minor controversy when the prosecution accused Sowore of possessing a recording device in the dock, which the activist denied, claiming he only had his glasses, a power bank, and a phone. The day’s events highlight the deepening friction between the judiciary and Sowore’s legal team as the high-profile “cyber-bullying” case moves toward a critical ruling on whether the activist has a case to answer.
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