The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has rejected a Federal Capital Territory High Court ruling ordering it to pay one hundred million naira in damages to two Department of State Services officials for defamation. The organisation confirmed on Tuesday that it has filed an appeal against the judgment delivered in Abuja by Justice Yusuf Halilu.
The court had also directed SERAP to issue public apologies, pay one million naira in litigation costs, and a ten percent annual interest on the damages until the sum is fully settled. The case arose from claims made by SERAP in September 2024 alleging that DSS operatives unlawfully entered its office in Abuja.
In a statement, SERAP described the judgment as flawed and unacceptable, saying it has instructed its lawyers, Tayo Oyetibo and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, to challenge the decision. The group argued that the ruling undermines freedom of expression and civic engagement.
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SERAP said it would pursue all legal options to overturn the decision, maintaining that its actions were in the public interest and in line with its mandate to promote transparency and accountability.
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