NBA Condemns Court Order for Sowore's Lawyer to Kneel

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) publicly disagreed with a ruling by Justice Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered lawyer Abubakar Osigwe to kneel down in court. This incident occurred during proceedings concerning activist Omoyele Sowore, who is facing allegations of cyberbullying.

The tension escalated when Osigwe raised his voice while addressing the court, prompting Justice Umar to warn him against further outbursts. Despite attempts to deescalate the situation, the judge insisted on the kneeling order, which the NBA president criticized as undermining the legal profession's dignity.

The NBA called for lawyers to conduct themselves with restraint and respect towards the court, emphasizing that such matters should be handled through proper legal channels rather than through actions that could disrupt proceedings.