Stop Castigating Court Over N100 Awarded to 2 DSS Officers – CDHR Cautions SERAP
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called on the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to respect 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 (DSS).
In a statement issued on Thursday, CDHR said all individuals and organisations, including civil society groups, must obey decisions of competent courts in line with the rule of law and democratic principles.
The rights group noted that while advocacy organisations and citizens have the constitutional right to freedom of expression and public criticism, such rights must be exercised responsibly and within the limits of the law.
According to the statement, the court found that the publication made against the DSS operatives was defamatory and damaging to their professional reputation after reviewing the evidence presented before it.
CDHR urged SERAP to comply with all lawful directives contained in the ruling pending any appeal and refrain from making statements capable of escalating tensions or undermining judicial authority.
The organisation also advised all parties and public commentators to avoid inflammatory narratives that could deepen institutional distrust or portray the judiciary as partisan without credible evidence.
“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 said.
CDHR further stressed that no organisation is above the law, just as no security agency should be immune from lawful scrutiny.
The statement was signed by CDHR President and Secretary Board of Trustees, Debo Adeniran, and the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Jeremiah Onyibe.
In a related development, the Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) upbraided
SERAP for attempting to deride the judgement of the court. The group’s position was contained in a statement signed by its Executive director, Comrade Gbenga Soloki.
Said CAIDOV, “SERAP first made the claim that DSS officers invaded their Abuja office on September 9, 2024. Nearly two years after, and realising that they misrepresented the facts, it is worrying that the tweet is still pinned on their X handle.
“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. 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.
“Very big corporations around the world have at one time or the other been caught lying or cheating. Just last year, Deloitte, PwC, & EY Netherlands was fined $8.5 million for cheating. In 2024, KPMG Netherlands was fined
$25 million for widespread cheating on training exams.’What, therefore, is is the big deal in a Nigerian court imposing a N100 million (less than $72,000) fine on SERAP for defamation which is euphemism for lying?”
Continued the group, “Seeing senior lawyers like Ebun-Olu Adegborowa, who ordinarily should be encouraging their clients to appeal judgements, spend time castigating judgements already delivered, leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
“SERAP had nearly two years the matter lasted in court to assemble the best lawyers in their arsenal. They failed to. All their legal luminaries waited until they lost the case, then turned to the media to wage propaganda against two operatives of the DSS.
“It is sad that the same SERAP that has a history of relying on our law courts to hold government agencies and public office holders accountable, is now disparaging the same institution simply because they didn’t win this time around.
“If people like Ebun-Olu Adegborowa feel that they know more than our very reverred learned judges, it is not too late for him to transmute from a lawyer to a judge,” the group declared.
