The Sowore court confrontation in Abuja has drawn attention after activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore challenged a lawyer who allegedly called him a “tout.”
The incident happened on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, shortly before proceedings in Sowore’s ongoing trial over alleged cyberbullying of President Bola Tinubu.
A video of the exchange circulated on social media. In the footage, Sowore confronted the lawyer, identified in media reports as Yakubu, and demanded that he withdraw the alleged insult.
“Why did you call me a tout? What have I done to you?” Sowore asked.
He insisted that the lawyer had no right to insult him and questioned why he would be addressed that way while exercising his rights.
“You have no right to insult me. I don’t have any problem with you,” Sowore said during the exchange. He also criticised the lawyer’s conduct, arguing that a legal practitioner should know better than to insult someone in a courtroom.
Some of Sowore’s supporters also protested during the incident. Reports said the exchange became heated, although the circumstances leading to the alleged remark were not immediately clear.
Sowore Court Confrontation Happens During Tinubu Cyberbullying Trial
The confrontation occurred as Sowore’s trial over social media posts concerning President Tinubu continued.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting the activist over posts in which he allegedly described the President as a “criminal.” The allegation forms part of the case before the Federal High Court.
Sowore has challenged aspects of the proceedings through his defence team. On Monday, Justice Mohammed Umar also delivered a ruling on the defence’s request to compel DSS Director-General Tosin Ajayi to appear personally as a witness.
Court Rejects Sowore’s Request for DSS Boss to Testify
The court dismissed Sowore’s application to compel Ajayi to testify personally in the case.
Sowore’s counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, had sought the DSS chief’s appearance to give evidence about the agency’s official activities connected to the case.
However, DSS counsel Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, opposed the application. He argued that another authorised official with relevant knowledge could testify on behalf of the agency.
Justice Umar ruled that the subpoena concerned official DSS activities rather than matters personal to the Director-General. The judge held that another official could provide the required evidence.
Following the ruling, the defence called Michael Jego, a DSS investigating officer, as its third witness. He began giving evidence as the trial continued.
Previous Tensions at the Federal High Court
The latest exchange adds to earlier confrontations involving Sowore and lawyers at the Abuja court.
In March 2026, Sowore reportedly had a disagreement with Senior Advocate of Nigeria Musibau Adetunbi over speaking to journalists inside the courtroom. The Nigerian Bar Association subsequently called for respect for courtroom decorum.
The confrontation took place amid the ongoing legal proceedings, which continued with the defence presenting evidence in response to the case against Sowore.