As a law student, I am taught that the courtroom is a sacred arena where justice is administered, not a stage for humiliation. Yet, on 16 March 2026, a Federal High Court judge reportedly ordered Mr. Marshall Abubakar, lead counsel to Omoyele Sowore, to kneel before the Bar. Let me be clear: no judge, no matter how exalted, has the power to demean a legal practitioner in this manner.
The Nigerian Bar Association rightly condemned this act, highlighting that such a display of authority violates the sanctity of the courtroom and undermines the independence of the legal profession. I echo this stance. Lawyers are not subjects to be kneaded into submission; they are officers of the court, defenders of justice, and guardians of the rule of law.
As students of law, we must recognize that justice is not served by fear or coercion. Respect in the courtroom must be mutual—earned through conduct, not imposed through humiliation. Attempts to subordinate lawyers with public displays of power are antithetical to democracy and the rule of law.
This incident is not just a warning—it is a call to all law students and young lawyers to uphold the dignity of the profession with courage and conviction. The courtroom must remain a temple of justice, not a theater of intimidation.
