SERAP-DSS Appeal: Court Bars UN Rapporteurs, Columbia University from N100m Defamation Case
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has barred United Nations Special Rapporteurs and Columbia University from participating in the defamation case involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The appellate court also reserved judgment in SERAP’s appeal against a N100 million defamation award made against the organisation by the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
A three-member panel led by Justice Danlami Senchi reserved judgment on Tuesday after hearing arguments from SERAP’s counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, and counsel for the first and second respondents, O.S. Kehinde.
SERAP is challenging the May 5, 2026, judgment delivered by Justice Yusuf Halilu.
In his submissions, Oyetibo argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to award damages in favour of Sarah John over a publication allegedly referring to Sarah David.
He also questioned how the trial court established the description of a “tall, large, dark-skinned” woman without a photograph, urging the appellate court to allow the appeal.
However, Kehinde urged the court to dismiss the appeal, arguing that SERAP had failed to establish that Sarah John and Sarah David were different persons.
He maintained that a person could identify themselves from a publication based on its description, even where their name was not expressly mentioned.
Justice Senchi said the date for judgment would be communicated to the parties.
