Proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja were briefly disrupted on Monday after the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, threatened to cite defence counsel for contempt over conduct deemed disrespectful during the trial of activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore.

The warning was issued to Sowore’s lead counsel, Marshall Abubakar, who drew the court’s ire after repeatedly raising his voice while making submissions. At the peak of the exchange, the judge ordered the lawyer to step forward and kneel in open court. The situation was, however, defused after senior lawyers present, including prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde, intervened and appealed for restraint.

Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations that he made defamatory statements against President Bola Tinubu on his social media platforms, X and Facebook, where he allegedly described the president as “a criminal.”

Tensions escalated shortly after the defence concluded cross-examination of the prosecution’s sole witness, a DSS operative. The prosecution subsequently closed its case and urged the court to direct the defence to open its case.

In response, Abubakar informed the court of the defence’s intention to file a no-case submission and requested an adjournment until July. The application was opposed by the prosecution, which argued that the move was aimed at delaying proceedings and instead advocated for an accelerated hearing.

Justice Umar declined the request for a prolonged adjournment, noting that while the prosecution had conducted its case expeditiously, the defence had spent four days cross-examining a single witness. The court thereafter fixed April 13 for the adoption of final written addresses on the no-case submission.

The courtroom tension heightened when Sowore, speaking from the witness box, was joined by his counsel, who simultaneously addressed the court in a raised voice. Despite repeated warnings from the bench, Abubakar continued, prompting the judge to issue a stern threat of contempt.

Order was eventually restored following appeals from other lawyers in the courtroom, after which the judge adjourned the matter until April 13 and rose for the day.

Earlier in the proceedings, the prosecution raised concerns that the defendant had brought a recording device into the courtroom, contrary to an earlier court order. Sowore denied the allegation, stating that he only had his phone, power bank and eyeglasses. The court directed that the items be handed over to his counsel.

At the commencement of proceedings, Abubakar had also requested a stand-down, explaining that he had only just become aware of the sitting and did not have the case file with him, having been engaged in another court. Despite objections from the prosecution, the court granted the request and proceedings resumed later in the afternoon.

Upon resumption, the defence counsel cross-examined the prosecution witness, identified as Cyril Nosike, for about two hours and tendered several newspaper publications in the course of the hearing.

The case continues on April 13.