‘It was a joke’ – Eyewitness debunks report of judge ordering Sowore’s lawyer to kneel down in court
An eyewitness who was present at the trial of activist Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday has debunked the viral report that Justice Mohammed Umar, the presiding judge, ordered the activist’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, to kneel down over alleged contempt.
The viral report claimed that Justice Umar issued the threat after Abubakar raised his voice during court proceedings.
However, an eyewitness who spoke with our reporter on the condition of anonymity explained that the alleged threat was a joke by Justice Umar maliciously blown out of proportion by mischief makers.
He emphasised that everyone in the court knew it was a joke and that even Sowore’s counsel laughed at it.
The eyewitness added that everyone who knows Justice Umar could attest to his calm and friendly disposition and patience.
He said, “I was in the court yesterday during Sowore’s case, it was a friendly atmosphere where Marshal even alleged Sowore will unseat President Tinubu (we all laughed) and that they needed a convenient date in July in view of the election timetable. His lordship even allowed Sowore to talk from the dock, even the prosecution objected and that he has a legal representation.
“The judge didn’t mean it, his lordship was very patient after Marshal refused several dates the court gave him as adjournment, you needed to see how he raised his voice in the court to impose a date on the court, in fact A. T. Kehinde SAN even informed Marshal Esq. that a date for adjournment is a privilege not a right. Any lawyer who appears before Hon. Justice M. G. Umar will attest to his lordship’s calm and friendly disposition and patience.”
