Human rights organizations call on SERAP to comply with court ruling in defamation case involving DSS officers

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The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has called on the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project to comply with the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in the defamation suit filed by two operatives of the Department of State Services.

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In a statement issued on Thursday, the group said respect for court judgments remained essential to the preservation of democracy and the rule of law.

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The statement was jointly signed by CDHR President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Debo Adeniran, and the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Jeremiah Onyibe.

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CDHR stated that although advocacy groups and citizens have constitutional rights to freedom of expression and public criticism, such freedoms must be exercised responsibly and within the limits of the law.

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According to the organisation, the court, after considering the evidence presented before it, concluded that the publication against the DSS operatives was defamatory and damaging to their professional reputation.

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The group urged SERAP to comply with all lawful directives contained in the judgment pending the outcome of any appeal process.

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“The rule of law remains the foundation of every democratic society. Human rights advocacy must coexist with accountability, fairness, and respect for due process,” the statement read.

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CDHR also cautioned against statements or narratives capable of undermining judicial authority or deepening public distrust in state institutions without credible evidence.

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The organisation further stressed that while security agencies should remain open to lawful scrutiny, no organisation or individual is above the law.

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Meanwhile, the Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence also criticised SERAP over its reaction to the court judgment, accusing the organisation of attempting to ridicule the decision of the court.

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In a separate statement signed by its Executive Director, Gbenga Soloki, CAIDOV alleged that SERAP continued to maintain on its X handle claims that DSS operatives invaded its Abuja office on September 9, 2024, despite what the group described as a misrepresentation of facts.

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Soloki noted, “We in the human rights community should lead by example. We should not be seen as the very persons breaching human rights in the name of free speech.

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“Human rights is universal. It is for everybody. We should not trample on the rights of others simply because they chose to be security agents.”

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CAIDOV argued that the N100m damages awarded against SERAP for defamation should not be considered excessive, citing sanctions imposed on international firms over misconduct.

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“Very big corporations around the world have at one time or the other been caught lying or cheating.

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“Just last year, Deloitte, PwC and EY Netherlands were fined $8.5 million for cheating, while KPMG Netherlands was fined $25 million in 2024 for widespread cheating on training exams. What then is the big deal in a Nigerian court imposing a N100 million fine on SERAP for defamation?” the statement questioned.

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The organisation added that it was ironic for SERAP, which had frequently relied on the courts to hold public institutions accountable, to question the judiciary because the verdict did not favour it.

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The DSS had earlier clarified that the defamation suit was instituted by the two operatives in their personal capacity and not by the agency itself.

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In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications at DSS Headquarters, Favour Dozie, the Service said the officers sued SERAP after alleging that the organisation falsely accused them of invading its Abuja office and harassing staff on September 9, 2024.

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The DSS said it conducted an internal investigation into the allegations before approving the officers to seek legal redress personally.

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The FCT High Court subsequently ruled in favour of the operatives, awarding N100m damages against SERAP and directing the organisation to publish public apologies on its website, in The PUNCH and Vanguard newspapers, as well as on Arise Television and Channels Television.

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The court also ordered that the damages would attract a 10 per cent annual interest from May 5, 2026, until full payment.

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SERAP, however, rejected the judgment, describing it as flawed and announcing plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

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