The Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project has appealed the N100 million defamation judgment delivered against it by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja in favour of officials of the Department of State Services.
According to a statement released by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare the organisation has also filed an application seeking a stay of execution pending the outcome of the appeal.
The appeal filed by senior lawyer Tayo Oyetibo challenged the May 5 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Yusuf Halilu which awarded N100 million in damages to DSS officials Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele over alleged defamation.
The court had also ordered SERAP to publish public apologies pay N1 million in legal costs and a 10 percent annual interest on the judgment sum until it is fully paid.
SERAP described the ruling as a miscarriage of justice arguing that the judgment was legally flawed and based on defective evidence. The organisation maintained that the trial court relied on witness statements that were allegedly not properly sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths.
According to the appeal SERAP argued that the DSS officials failed to prove any reputational damage financial loss or actual harm caused by the publications in question. The organisation also insisted that the statements complained about did not specifically identify the officials personally.
SERAP further stated that the DSS as a large institution could not allow individual members to successfully claim defamation unless they were directly and clearly identified in the publication.
The organisation warned that enforcing the judgment could seriously affect its operations including its human rights advocacy investigations and legal interventions across Nigeria. SERAP added that paying the judgment sum may also limit its ability to effectively prosecute the appeal before the Court of Appeal.
The group said the case raises wider concerns about civic space freedom of expression and the protection of public interest advocacy in Nigeria.
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