CDHR Cautions SERAP on Court Ruling Over N100M Award

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) issued a caution to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) regarding its criticism of a Federal High Court ruling that awarded N100 million to two Department of State Services (DSS) operatives for defamation. The judgment, delivered by Justice Halilu Yusuf, also mandated SERAP to pay N1 million in litigation costs and issue an apology to two national newspapers and two television stations.

CDHR emphasized the importance of respecting court decisions, regardless of personal opinions, and stated that no organization is above the law. The group urged SERAP to refrain from inflammatory public statements that could undermine judicial authority and advised them to allow the legal process to unfold.

SERAP had previously claimed that DSS officers invaded its office in Abuja on September 9, 2024, and described the court's judgment as an attempt to suppress free speech.