RismadarVoice Reporters
October 27, 2026
Human rights activist and publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service following a reported confrontation involving journalists at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Sowore expressed his displeasure in a post on his official X account on Tuesday, October 27, accusing the officials of acting as though they exercised exclusive control over activities within the court premises.
The activist maintained that the Federal High Court was a public institution and should not be treated as the private property of correctional officers.
His remarks followed an encounter involving journalists who were reportedly attempting to cover activities around the courthouse.
Sowore questioned the conduct of the officials and expressed concern over what he considered a lack of understanding of the media’s responsibility to report matters of public interest.
He argued that journalists should be allowed to perform their professional duties without unnecessary interference, particularly when covering proceedings and developments involving public institutions.
The activist’s criticism has brought renewed attention to the relationship between security personnel and journalists working within judicial premises.
Although courts may enforce security procedures and regulate access to certain areas, Sowore’s position was that such responsibilities should not be exercised in a manner that unjustifiably obstructs legitimate media activities.
However, his social media statement did not provide a detailed explanation of what triggered the confrontation or identify the specific officers involved.
It also remained unclear whether any journalist was prevented from entering the courtroom, had equipment confiscated or was subjected to physical intimidation.
The Nigerian Correctional Service had not been independently confirmed to have issued a response to the specific allegations at the time of this report.
The development comes against the background of previous disputes involving Sowore and security operatives at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Earlier in October, the activist filed a ₦5 billion fundamental rights suit against the Department of State Services and other officials over an alleged confrontation at the same court complex in June.
That separate case concerns allegations of assault and unlawful treatment, which remain subject to judicial determination.
Tuesday’s incident has again raised questions about the need for clear coordination between court security personnel, correctional officers and accredited journalists.
The circumstances of the latest confrontation remain unclear, while Sowore has maintained that public institutions must respect the legitimate role of the press.
