Prison warders attached to the Federal High Court in Abuja were caught on camera harassing journalists and supporters of the African Action Congress (AAC) on Tuesday, with some of the officers threatening to damage a journalist’s camera and physically confronting those recording the incident.
In a video posted online by human rights activist and AAC presidential candidate in the 2027 election, Omoyele Sowore, three warders were seen confronting journalists and attempting to stop them from filming within the premises of the court.
The officers, who had removed their identification tags, were also seen pointing fingers at journalists and issuing threats while insisting that they stop recording.
One of the warders was heard saying, “I have told you that you should stop videoing. I don tell you say you should stop.”
As a journalist attempted to calm the officer down, the warder continued with his threats, warning that he would destroy the recording equipment if the journalist continued filming.
“If you snap this thing, I will break. Why he want snap us?” the officer said.
Another warder was also heard warning the journalists, saying, “Don’t try that nonsense.”
The confrontation escalated as the officers continued to challenge journalists and supporters of the AAC who were present at the court premises.
Omoyele Sowore, the AAC presidential candidate, subsequently approached the scene and challenged the warders, demanded to be recorded alongside his supporters if they intended to continue harassing people filming within the court premises.
Sowore’s intervention came as the officers continued confronting those recording the incident.
In another part of the video, one of the warders was seen pushing the AAC National Secretary, Philip Oshiok with his rifle in his hand, despite Sowore’s repeated attempts to caution the officers and de-escalate the confrontation.
Reacting to the incident on his X account, Sowore criticised the warders’ conduct, noting that the Federal High Court is a public institution rather than the private property of prison officials.
He further expressed concern over the officers’ apparent lack of understanding of the media’s role in society.
“Their apparent lack of understanding of the role of the media is deeply troubling,” he said.
According to Sowore, journalists have a “legitimate duty to report on court proceedings and activities around the courthouse”.
He also urged prison officials to respect press freedom and stop behaving as though they had unrestricted authority over media coverage of people entering and leaving the court.
“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 added.
Abuja Municipal, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
