Nigeria: Court Delivers Judgement in SSS' N5 Billion Defamation Suit Against SERAP Tuesday
SERAP says it will challenge the case’s competence as the DSS seeks N5 billion over claims its operatives invaded the group’s Abuja office.
- On Tuesday, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory ordered the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project to pay ₦100 million in damages to two Department of State Services operatives for defamation.
- The DSS initiated the lawsuit in October 2024, alleging SERAP falsely claimed operatives invaded its Abuja office on September 9, 2024, while the agency maintained the visit was a routine familiarization meeting.
- SERAP vehemently denied the allegations, characterizing the suit as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation , yet the court found the organization liable, holding that nothing in the publication was truthful.
- The court further mandated SERAP pay ₦1 million in litigation costs with 10 percent annual interest and tender public apologies in Punch, Vanguard, Arise Television, and Channels Television.
- SERAP reiterated that using such lawsuits against organizations exercising human rights is "antithetical to the Nigerian Constitution 1999," vowing those perpetrating these practices will be held to account.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Court judgment against SERAP is attack on free expression, civic space – Amnesty Int’l
Amnesty International has expressed concern over today’s judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, in the case involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and officials of the Department of State Services, DSS. Recall that Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory today ordered SERAP to pay N100 million in damages to the DSS officials for alleged defamation. The court al…
Court delivers judgement in SSS' N5 billion defamation suit against SERAP Tuesday
SSS sued SERAP in October 2024, accusing the not-for-profit organisation of falsely claiming that its operatives, in September 2024, invaded its Abuja office. The post Court delivers judgement in SSS’ N5 billion defamation suit against SERAP Tuesday appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left, 50% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
