Omoyele Sowore, human rights activists, has denied claims that he staged a press conference at the federal high court in Abuja.
In an earlier statement, the NBA had condemned Sowore’s
conduct, following an altercation inside the courtroom.
In a viral video, Sowore was seen engaging in an exchange
with Musibau Adetunbi, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as he attempted to
grant an interview to journalists.
The NBA said it viewed the incident “with grave concern”,
noting that courtrooms in a constitutional democracy are open to the public not
as arenas for performance, but as sanctuaries for the orderly administration of
justice.
Responding to the statement, Sowore said the NBA’s claim
that he staged a press conference in court on a day when his case was not
listed “is incorrect”.
He said his presence at the court was to obtain a certified
true copy of a ruling that struck out a cybercrime charge filed against him in
January 2025 by Kayode Egbetokun, the former inspector-general of police (IGP).
According to Sowore, the court registrar informed him that
the judge declined to sign the order due to pending motions filed by the
Nigeria Police Force, including an ex parte application to relist the case and
another seeking its withdrawal.
“We were told that Justice M.S. Liman would only sign the
ruling after addressing those motions. We protested this irregularity and were
asked to wait for the judge to resume sitting,” he said.
Sowore said while waiting, journalists approached him for
comments, which he granted.
“I did not organize any press conference. I responded to
questions, as I have done consistently over the years including during my 2019
treason trial under the Muhammadu Buhari regime even though the DSS would
smuggle me in and out of the court using the judge’s elevator bank,” he said.
He described the NBA’s reaction as “selective outrage”,
questioning its silence during past incidents involving security agencies.
“Where was this energy when operatives invaded a courtroom
to abduct me before a sitting judge?” he asked.
Sowore also alleged misconduct from Adetunbi, who was
involved in the earlier confrontation, accusing him of intimidation and
harassment.
He further insisted that court records would show his case
was before the court, with legal representatives present, and noted that the
judge reaffirmed the earlier ruling striking out the charge and ordered the
release of his passport.
“The NBA cannot claim to defend the rule of law while
ignoring abuses by powerful state actors and amplifying misleading narratives
against victims of those abuses. This is not just disappointing, it is
dangerous,” the statement added.
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