SERAP's Appeal Hearing Delayed Due to Late Brief Filing

The Court of Appeal in Abuja postponed the hearing of appeals filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, due to the late submission of their legal briefs. The appeals are against a May 5 judgment from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, which ruled that SERAP and Oluwadare defamed two officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) through a false publication made on September 10, 2024.

During the proceedings, the first appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1114/2026, was heard by a panel led by Justice Danlami Senchi. However, the second appeal, CA/ABJ/CV/1105/2026, was deemed not ready for hearing as Oluwadare's brief was filed just before the court session.

The court decided to adjourn both appeals until October 13, requiring the respondents to file their briefs by October 12. The May 5 judgment, delivered by Justice Halilu Yusuf, found that SERAP and Oluwadare failed to substantiate their claims and thus were liable for defamation.