By Oluwatosin oladipo
Inside this edition: How the Sowore re-arrest inside a courtroom reopens Nigeria’s debate on police power, camera rights, and the sanctity of justice. Can the rule of law survive when the gavel trembles before the gun?
Intro
When justice is forced to kneel in its own temple, democracy itself stands trial. The re-arrest of activist Omoyele Sowore moments after being granted bail inside a courtroom has again tested Nigeria’s soul a country where the scales of justice sometimes seem to tilt toward the side of power.
This is not just about one man’s fate, but about how power, law, and truth collide in a society still finding its moral rhythm.
The Day the Court Became a Battlefield
It began as a routine bail hearing the gavel, the robes, the solemn air. Then, like a thunderstorm on a sunny day, the atmosphere changed. Police officers moved in swiftly and seized Sowore at the court entrance. Lawyers protested, journalists filmed, and the public watched in disbelief.
In that instant, the courtroom; a sanctuary of justice; became a stage for national embarrassment. It was not merely the arrest of a man; it was the arrest of the law itself.
A Yoruba adage says, “A king who shames his messenger in public invites shame to his throne.” That day, Nigeria’s justice system wore the robe of humiliation.
The Law Speaks and So Does Silence
Under Section 35(1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, every citizen has the right to liberty, except through a lawful procedure. Arresting someone in court without judicial approval contradicts that sacred rule. The moment an accused appears before a judge, the person falls under the court’s jurisdiction and protection.
Legal precedents, such as Director of SSS v. Agbakoba (1999), affirm that disrespecting the authority of the court amounts to contempt.
But contempt is not just a legal term here; it is a moral wound. When law enforcement drags citizens before a watching public right after bail, it is the rule of force mocking the rule of law.
As the Scriptures put it in Ecclesiastes 5:8:
“If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice in a province, do not marvel; for one higher than the high watches.”
The Fear of Cameras And the Fear of Truth
Across Europe and America, police officers proudly wear body cameras. Every encounter is recorded; a safeguard for both officers and citizens. Transparency breeds trust.
But in Nigeria, the camera often sparks conflict. Citizens filming police actions risk harassment or arrest. Phones are confiscated; videos deleted. Yet Section 39(1) of the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression; the right to “receive and impart information without interference.”
Why then do officers fear the camera?
As Jesus said in John 3:20–21 (KJV):
“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light… but he that doeth truth cometh to the light.”
The camera is not an enemy; it is a witness. The good drummer doesn’t hide from the crowd.
A Pattern, Not an Accident
The Sowore incident mirrors a pattern of institutional overreach; where security agencies sometimes act as though their badges place them above the law.
When policemen disrespect the courts, journalists are attacked for filming, or citizens are silenced for asking questions, democracy suffers a slow death.
As the Igbo proverb goes, “The lizard that fell from the high iroko tree said it would praise itself if no one else did.”
Nigeria must stop pretending things are fine when justice keeps falling from grace.
The Ripple Effects
Erosion of Public Trust: Citizens lose faith in the courts when law enforcement flouts judicial authority.
Media Intimidation: Fear-driven journalism replaces fearless truth.
Judicial Weakness: The courts appear powerless before executive influence.
Global Embarrassment: Nigeria is seen as a democracy with uniformed impunity.
Accountability Gap: Without cameras, truth becomes a rumor and lies become records.
Correcting the Menace: Steps Toward Redemption
Protect the Court’s Dignity: Courts must enact clear practice directions forbidding arrests within the courtroom without the judge’s order. Judicial sanctity is non-negotiable.
Enforce Police Transparency: Amend the Police Act 2020 to make body cameras mandatory during all official duties. The law enforcer should not fear being seen if he acts lawfully.
Retrain for Rights and Respect: The Nigeria Police must undergo regular training in constitutional ethics, human rights, and public communication.
Empower Journalists: Media professionals should document freely and responsibly. The NUJ and NBA must stand united to defend press freedom.
A king who breaks his mirror does not escape the truth about his face.
Enlighten the Public: Nigerians must learn to lawfully document and report misconduct. Knowledge is the citizen’s best defense.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” — Hosea 4:6
Advice to Stakeholders
To the Police: Your uniform is not a shield from accountability. Serve with integrity, for “He that walketh uprightly walketh surely.” — Proverbs 10:9
To Lawyers: Challenge unlawful arrests and demand judicial pronouncements that protect court sanctity and citizens’ media rights.
To Journalists: Use your lenses with discipline and courage. Truth is light, and light exposes both crime and courage.
To Nigerians: Know your rights, record with wisdom, and report with accuracy. The truth may be silent for a while, but it never dies.
Conclusion: Let the Light Return
When justice is arrested in court, the whole nation stands accused.
The gavel becomes a toy, the Constitution becomes paper, and the conscience of a nation sleeps.
But hope remains. With courage, reform, and transparency, Nigeria can reclaim the dignity of her justice system. Let us remember:
“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” — Proverbs 14:34
The light must return, in the courts, in the streets, and in the hearts of men. Because when the camera goes off and conscience goes silent, a nation loses both its sight and its soul.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Right Constitutional Provision
Personal Liberty Section 35(1)
Freedom of Expression & Press Section 39(1)
Dignity of the Human Person Section 34(1)
Judicial Authority Section 6(1)–(6)
Lawful Arrest Procedure Police Act 2020, Criminal Procedure Act
5 Quick Tips for Citizens
1. You have the right to record police activities in public, as long as you don’t obstruct duty.
2. Remain calm, ask politely for the reason for arrest.
3. Report abuse to the NHRC or Police Complaints Response Unit (CRU).
4. Keep video evidence secure and unedited.
5. In court, only the judge decides what happens, not the police.
