When the Bar unites against the Bench

Vivian Okejeme, in this piece writes on how lawyers rose in unison against what they described as bullying and intimidation from the bench.

“We wish to remind the judges that a judge’s invocation of his power to punish for contempt of his court is an unwarranted exhibition of naked judicial power which puts counsel and their clients in fear of the court and erodes an important safeguard of fair trial.”

This is a statement from Afam Osigwe, President of the Nigeria Bar Association(NBA) in a reaction to the alleged judges’ bullying and illegal detention of lawyers.

There’s no doubt that the Nigerian legal profession is witnessing a growing wave of concern over what lawyers describe as “bullying from the bench.”

This is a phrase increasingly used to characterize instances where judges, in the exercise of their judicial authority, allegedly descend into intimidation, humiliation, or undue hostility toward lawyers appearing before them.

Some lawyers usually become jittery whenever they were going to appear before a certain judge.

Against this backdrop,
lawyers have been united in condemning what they have described as the growing spate of bullying and intimidation coming from the bench .

It is well known fact that courtrooms have always been a place of discipline, hierarchy, and decorum; however, recent complaints suggest that the delicate balance between authority and fairness is, in some instances, disappearing.

Legal practitioners, across various jurisdictions have, therefore, raised the alarm over what they perceived as a troubling trend as judges openly rebuke counsels in harsh tones, issuing threats of contempt in questionable circumstances, or displaying conduct that undermines the dignity of legal practitioners.

For many, these incidents go beyond isolated cases of courtroom tension; they reflect a systemic issue that could have far-reaching implications for justice delivery and the rule of law.

Lawyers have, however, argued that the courtroom is not merely a battleground for legal arguments but a sacred forum where justice must not only be done but be seen to have been done.

When judges engaging in conducts that appear oppressive or dismissive, the tendency to intimidate lawyers, discourage robust advocacy, and ultimately weaken the adversarial system upon which justice depends is very high.

Our checks revealed that this spate of disturbing trend mostly affects the rookies in the profession. They often lacked the confidence to challenge judicial excesses for fear of professional sanctions.

Furthermore, this issue has also sparked broader conversations about judicial accountability, professional respect, and the need for clearer boundaries in courtroom conduct.

According to analysts, while judges are vested with enormous powers to maintain order and ensure efficient proceedings, those powers are not without limits. They contended that the principle of judicial restraint remains a cornerstone of ethical adjudication, and any deviation from it raises serious concerns within the legal community.

It is against this backdrop that lawyers across the country, under the umbrella of the Nigerian Bar Association, have begun to speak with a unified voice over this disturbing trend.

Through formal statements, petitions, and public discourse, they are calling for an end to what they describe as judicial bullying and advocating for a more respectful, balanced, and professional courtroom environment.

The NBA, has based on reports received, slammed Judges for bullying lawyers and ordering their detention.

In a statement issued by the President and General Secretary of the Bat, Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN and Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara respectively. the association condemned the action of Justice Chinwendu Nwogu of the High court of River State.

The judge ordered the detention of defendants’ counsel to Chief of Naval Staff and the Nigerian Navy, Mrs. Lovinah Ugbana Benjamin, of contempt of court for allegedly making false statements and imputations against the Court in a written address she filed in the matter.

In another report, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the FCT high court Abuja, ordered the detention of Martin Anyanwu, a legal officer in the employ of Federal Medical Center, Keffi, in the Court’s holding facility on March 25, 2026.

NBA has as well condemned an attempt by a FHC in Abuja, Justice Mohammed Umar, who ordered Marshall Abubakar to kneel down during a tense exchange between them.

However, the directive was resisted by the lawyer and ultimately halted following the intervention of other counsel in the courtroom.

Also, reacting to the development, former chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, criticised Justice Umar, over reports that he ordered a lawyer to kneel during court proceedings in Abuja.

Odinkalu, in a post shared on his X handle, expressed disbelief at the development, questioning the conduct of the judge and the implications for judicial decorum.

“So, Moh’d Umar, a judge of @FederalHigh, ordered a lawyer in his court to kneel down? I am sure there are people saying ‘As the court pleases,’” he wrote.

Lawyers React

Reacting, a former President of Public Interest Lawyers , Dr. Abdul Mahmud said that, “the concerns raised by the NBA speak to a deeper unease within the justice system; one that touches on the balance of authority and professional dignity in the courtroom. He posited that the relationship between the bench and the Bar is not hierarchical in the crude sense, but relational, symbiotic, and grounded in the shared duty to uphold justice.

Also reacting , an Abuja based lawyer , Meg Omenka said that, “Judicial authority is a sacred trust, one that must be exercised with restraint, dignity, and an unwavering commitment to justice. The courtroom is not a theatre for intimidation, nor should it become an arena where lawyers are subjected to undue hostility or oppressive conduct. She held that Judges, as custodians of the rule of law, are expected to uphold fairness and ensure that proceedings are conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

Also reacting, Emmanuel Ekwe an Abuja based lawyer said that “the concerns raised by the NBA are both timely and significant. The relationship between the Bar and the Bench is foundational to the administration of justice, and it must be anchored on mutual respect, independence, and fidelity to the rule of law. According to him, any perception or reality of intimidation or undue pressure on legal practitioners by judicial officers undermines not only the confidence of lawyers but also the integrity of the justice system itself.

I’m conclusion, to dis-escate this situation, stakeholders should unite and raise the issue and follow it to a logical conclusion to see the end of the menace.