Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on Tuesday clashed with Nigerian Correctional Service wardens at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The confrontation erupted after prison wardens and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives heavily barricaded the court premises, preventing journalists from filming or accessing the building to cover judicial activities.
Videos circulating online showed a confrontation involving security personnel and men dressed in traditional attire.
Available information indicated that the armed security personnel locked out media representatives ahead of a scheduled hearing for Sowore, whose defense team is seeking to revoke a bench warrant and reinstate his initial bail arrangement.
Witnessing the harassment of journalists and AAC supporters, Sowore directly intervened, leading to a heated face-to-face altercation with the officers.
Following the confrontation, Sowore released a statement via his official X account, heavily criticizing the wardens.
He faulted the prison wardens for allegedly restricting journalists from covering activities around the courthouse, insisting that the Federal High Court is a public institution and not the private property of security officials.
“These poorly prison wardens need to understand that the Federal High Court is a public institution, not their private property.
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“Their apparent lack of understanding of the role of the media is deeply troubling.
“Journalists have a legitimate duty to report on court proceedings and activities around the courthouse.
“Prison officials must respect press freedom and stop acting as though they have absolute control over media coverage of people entering and leaving the court,” Sowore wrote.
The incident has sparked mixed reactions on X, with some Nigerians supporting Sowore’s position on press freedom while others questioned his approach to confrontations with security personnel.
It has also renewed conversations about press freedom, journalists’ access to court proceedings and the conduct of security personnel in public institutions.
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