Appeal Court Rebukes SERAP for Delaying Defamation Case

The Court of Appeal in Abuja criticized the Incorporated Trustees of the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, for delaying their appeals by submitting their briefs late. This delay caused the court to postpone proceedings from October 9 to October 13, 2026.

The appeals were against a May 5 judgment from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, which found SERAP and Oluwadare liable for defaming two officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) through false publications made on September 10, 2024. The three-judge panel expressed disappointment when the appellant's lawyer, Hannah Ayanwale, indicated that the appeal was not ready for hearing.

The court noted that both appeals, one from SERAP and the other from Oluwadare, should be heard together as they stemmed from the same judgment. The court adjourned the hearing until October 13, ordering the respondents to file their briefs by October 12.