A coalition of civil society groups has called for restraint following the recent judgment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in a defamation suit involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and officials of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The coalition, comprising The Green Assembly Initiative and the Nigeria Youth Organisation, made the call in a joint statement issued on Saturday in Abuja. The statement was signed by Duke Alamboye, Convener of the Green Assembly Initiative.
The groups were reacting to the May 5 judgment delivered by Justice Yusuf Halilu, in which the court ruled that SERAP defamed two DSS officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, through publications made on its website and social media platforms on September 10, 2024.
Justice Halilu awarded N100 million in damages against SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, plus N1 million as cost of the suit. The court also ordered the defendants to issue public apologies and pay post-judgment interest.
In the statement, the coalition acknowledged the judiciary as the final arbiter in disputes and stressed the need for respect for court decisions.
“We acknowledge the authority of the judiciary as the final arbiter in disputes of this nature. However, we are concerned over SERAP’s reaction to the judgment, particularly its decision to issue further public statements rejecting the ruling instead of pursuing appellate review,” the coalition said.
“While we recognise the right of any party to express disagreement, we strongly believe that continued issuance of highly charged public statements at this stage risks escalating tensions and undermining public confidence in judicial processes.”
The coalition warned that sustained media narratives around ongoing litigation could erode public trust in national institutions, including the judiciary and security agencies.
It urged all parties to embrace the appellate process rather than resort to prolonged public commentary that could deepen divisions.
The coalition maintained that democracy is strengthened through adherence to due process, respect for the courts, and responsible civic engagement. It called on all parties to de-escalate public rhetoric and allow appellate courts to determine further legal questions arising from the matter.
