SERAP to Appeal N100m Judgment Favoring DSS

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has announced its intention to appeal a High Court ruling that awarded N100 million in damages to the Department of State Services (DSS) in a defamation case. The judgment, delivered on Tuesday by Justice Yusuf Halilu, found that SERAP had successfully established the elements of defamation against two DSS officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundel.

The court ordered SERAP to pay N100 million in damages and publish a public apology in two national newspapers and on two television stations. SERAP's Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, criticized the ruling, labeling it a serious blow to civic space in Nigeria and a textbook example of judicial harassment.

He stated that the case reflects a troubling pattern of using defamation laws to punish legitimate criticism and suppress public accountability. SERAP has instructed senior lawyers Tayo Oyetibo and Ebun Olu Adegboruwa to file an immediate appeal against the judgment.