There was a tense moment during court proceedings in Rivers State after a man suddenly raised an alarm, alleging that his landlord had threatened to kill him inside the courtroom.
In a video of the incident, the man could be heard drawing the attention of those present to the alleged threat, declaring: “My landlord is threatening to kill me right here in court.”
The outburst immediately attracted attention inside the courtroom, as lawyers and other persons present gathered around while the exchange continued.
The footage shows several people standing and engaging one another during the tense moment, with the normal atmosphere of the courtroom temporarily disrupted by the confrontation.
The man maintained that the alleged threat had been made against him while they were already within the court premises, prompting him to openly raise the alarm in the presence of lawyers and other court users.
It was not immediately clear from the video what case had brought the man and the person he described as his landlord before the court, or what disagreement had preceded the alleged threat.
The footage also does not independently establish that a death threat was actually made; it records the man’s allegation during the courtroom confrontation.
The identity of the landlord, the particular court in Rivers State where the incident occurred, and whether the presiding judge subsequently issued any directive over the disturbance were not immediately available.
It was also unclear whether the alleged threat was formally reported to the police or court authorities for investigation.
The incident nevertheless caused a stir because the allegation was made within a courtroom, a place ordinarily expected to provide a controlled and secure environment for parties seeking the resolution of disputes through lawful means.
As of the time of this report, no official statement had been obtained from the Rivers State Judiciary or the police concerning the incident, while the person accused by the man had not been independently heard on the allegation.