The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has appealed a Federal Capital Territory High Court judgement ordering it to pay ₦100 million in damages to two DSS officials for defamation.
Filed on May 8, 2026, by Senior Advocate Tayo Oyetibo, the appeal also requests a stay of execution pending the outcome.
SERAP called the May 5 ruling by Justice Yusuf Halilu “legally flawed” and a “miscarriage of justice.”
The High Court had ordered SERAP to pay ₦100 million in damages, issue a public apology, cover ₦1 million in costs, and pay 10% annual interest on the damages until fully paid.
In its Notice of Appeal, SERAP argues the judgement was based on fundamental legal and evidential errors.
It says the court relied on a witness statement not sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths, used the subjective view of DSS staff members instead of the objective test for defamation, and wrongly allowed a non-juristic entity to be substituted with a juristic one.
SERAP is asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling and dismiss the suit, CV/4547/2024, filed by DSS officials Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele. It also seeks an injunction to block enforcement of the judgment during the appeal.
The group warned that enforcing the judgement would disrupt its operations, affect staff and partners, and halt ongoing human rights and advocacy work across Nigeria.
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