- SERAP appealed ₦100 million defamation judgment delivered by Abuja High Court.
- Organisation described ruling as miscarriage of justice and legally flawed.
- SERAP seeks stay of execution pending Court of Appeal decision.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has appealed the ₦100 million defamation judgment delivered against it by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.
The judgment was awarded in favour of two officials of the Department of State Services, identified as Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- FA Introduces New Rules To Limit Heading In Football
- President Tinubu Has Not Endorsed Any APC Candidate for 2027 – Jandor
- Police Arrest 2 Over Trafficking of Nigerian Woman to Côte d’Ivoire
EKO HOT BLOG reports that in a statement issued on Tuesday by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation disclosed that it had also filed an application seeking a stay of execution pending the determination of the appeal.
The appeal was filed on Friday by senior lawyer Tayo Oyetibo, challenging the May 5, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Yusuf Halilu.
The trial court had awarded ₦100 million in damages against SERAP over alleged defamation.
The court also directed the organisation to publish public apologies, pay ₦1 million as litigation costs and a 10 per cent annual post-judgment interest on the damages until full payment is made.
SERAP described the judgment as “a travesty and miscarriage of justice,” insisting that the ruling was both procedurally and legally flawed.
According to the organisation, it would amend its notice of appeal after obtaining the Certified True Copy of the judgment.
In the appeal, SERAP argued that the lower court relied on defective evidence, including a witness statement it claimed was not properly sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths.
“The lower court erred in law in holding that the words complained of were published of and concerning the Claimants personally, contrary to the established objective test for identification in the tort of defamation,” the organisation stated.
SERAP further argued that the court failed to uphold its legal defences, including justification, qualified privilege and fair comment.
The organisation maintained that the publications in question were substantially true and made in the public interest.
It also argued that the DSS officials failed to prove reputational damage, financial loss or actual harm arising from the publications.
SERAP insisted that the DSS, being a large institution, could not allow individual members to maintain a defamation suit unless they were specifically identified.
The organisation is now asking the Court of Appeal to overturn the entire judgment and dismiss the suit.
SERAP also warned that enforcing the judgment could seriously disrupt its operations and affect its human rights, transparency and accountability programmes across Nigeria.
“The enforcement of the judgment would deprive SERAP of its constitutional right of appeal,” the organisation added.
FURTHER READING
- Nigerian Fraudster Admits Role in $50 Million Email Scam Network
- FG Begins Review of Agricultural Curricula to Bridge Skills Gap
- Mother Slumps, Dies While Escorting Daughter To UTME Centre In Ondo
