Court Orders SERAP to Pay N100m for Defamation

On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Halilu Yusuf, awarded N100 million in damages against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in a defamation suit filed by two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The court found SERAP liable for defamatory claims made against the DSS operatives and ordered the organization to pay N100 million in general damages, along with an additional N1 million to cover litigation costs incurred by the claimants.

SERAP was also directed to issue a public apology to the operatives, which must be published in two national newspapers and broadcast on two television stations. The judgment included an annual interest rate of 10 percent on the awarded sum until fully paid.

The case stemmed from a statement issued by SERAP on September 9, 2024, alleging unlawful invasion of its Abuja office by DSS operatives. The court dismissed preliminary objections raised by SERAP and upheld the claimants' assertions of reputational injury.