The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has openly criticised activist Omoyele Sowore after a tense moment at the Federal High Court in Abuja, warning that courtrooms must not be turned into media spaces.

The reaction follows an incident on Tuesday where Sowore attempted to address journalists inside the courtroom, a move that quickly sparked a confrontation with senior lawyer Musibau Adetunbi. Eyewitness accounts and a now-circulating video show the lawyer objecting, insisting the setting was inappropriate, while Sowore stood his ground.

In its response, the NBA, through its president, Afam Osigwe, made it clear that while courtrooms are open to the public, they are not open to everything. The association stressed that access does not give anyone the freedom to stage press interactions or create distractions within the court.

From the NBA’s account, Sowore didn’t just speak to journalists casually. He reportedly arrived with a small media setup and began engaging on broader national issues, despite not having any matter scheduled before the court at the time. That, the association said, crossed a line.

At the centre of the NBA’s reaction is a simple argument: courtrooms demand discipline. According to the body, any action that disrupts proceedings or challenges the authority of the court, no matter who is involved, undermines the justice system.

The association also threw its weight behind Adetunbi and other lawyers present, saying their pushback was necessary to maintain order in the courtroom.

Beyond the clash itself, the NBA’s statement speaks to a larger concern about how public figures engage with legal spaces. In a system already under scrutiny, the body warned that turning courtrooms into stages for attention or confrontation could weaken public trust.

It also urged court authorities to be more proactive in preventing similar situations, insisting that the courtroom must remain a controlled environment focused strictly on legal proceedings.