By George Omagbemi Sylvester
A Federal Capital Territory High Court has ruled that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) defamed the Department of State Services (DSS), awarding ₦100 million in damages and ordering a public apology. The court found that SERAP’s publication falsely portrayed DSS operatives as acting unlawfully, damaging their professional reputation and exposing them to public ridicule.
May 5, 2026 frames the ruling delivered by Justice Yusuf Halilu, its implications stretch far beyond the immediate parties. The court held that SERAP failed to challenge key evidence and could not justify its claims, reinforcing the legal threshold that freedom of expression must be balanced against reputational rights.
The judgment also mandated apologies across multiple media platforms, emphasizing accountability in public communication.
The decision exposes a growing tension in Nigeria’s civic space: the fine line between activism and defamation.
The ruling strengthens institutional protection against false claims, it also raises concerns about whether legal actions of this scale could deter legitimate advocacy, investigative reporting, and public-interest criticism in an already sensitive democratic environment.
Leave a Reply