Two civil society groups have defended a court ruling ordering the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to pay damages to two Department of State Services operatives over defamatory claims.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and the Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) criticised SERAP for attacking the judgment delivered by an FCT High Court.
Justice Yusuf Halilu had ordered SERAP to pay ₦100 million in damages and ₦1 million in legal costs to DSS operatives Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele.
The court also directed the group to publish apologies in newspapers, on television stations, and on its social media platforms.
SERAP officials described the ruling as a “travesty” and questioned the court’s reasoning.
Its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said defamation claims require proof that statements were false and damaged reputations.
But CDHR said every organisation “must respect the decisions of competent courts, regardless of personal opinions or institutional interests.”
“The rule of law remains the foundation of every democratic society,” the group said in a statement signed by Debo Adeniran and Jeremiah Onyibe.
It added that “no organisation, regardless of its status in civil society, is above the law.”
The group urged SERAP to “respect the judgment of the court” and pursue any challenge through the appeal process instead of making statements that could “undermine judicial authority.”
CAIDOV also criticised SERAP, saying human rights groups “should lead by example” and not violate others’ rights “in the name of free speech.”
The group added that criticism of the judiciary by lawyers after losing cases “leaves a sour taste in the mouth.”
