More than 50 Nigerian civil society organisations, human rights groups and public interest advocates have expressed concern over the defamation judgment reportedly secured by officials of the Department of State Services against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, warning that the development could have far-reaching implications for civic freedoms and judicial transparency in the country.
In a joint statement dated May 11, 2026, the groups said they were disturbed by public reactions and commentaries surrounding the judgment despite reports that neither the Certified True Copy, CTC, nor the full text of the judgment had been made publicly available at the time.
The organisations argued that such a situation raises concerns about procedural fairness, institutional responsibility and adherence to constitutional principles of due process.
Citing Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, the groups noted that every Nigerian is entitled to fair hearing before an independent and impartial court, stressing that transparency and access to judicial decisions are critical components of that right.
They also referenced Sections 39(1) and 22 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression and assign the media and civic actors the responsibility of holding government accountable.
The statement further cited Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which protect the right to receive and disseminate information.
According to the groups, delays in releasing the Certified True Copy of judgments in matters of public importance could undermine confidence in the judiciary and weaken democratic accountability.
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“Timely access to judgments is central to the administration of justice. Without access to the judgment, litigants may be unable to properly evaluate their legal position, pursue informed appellate review, or respond responsibly in the public domain,” the statement read.
The organisations also warned against what they described as the increasing use of defamation suits and coercive legal measures in matters involving anti-corruption advocacy and public accountability.
They maintained that civil society organisations must be allowed to question authority and engage in public-interest advocacy without intimidation or fear of retaliation.
The groups further stressed that the constitutional right of appeal should not be interpreted as contempt for the judiciary, noting that appellate review remains an essential part of the justice system.
Among their demands were the immediate release of the Certified True Copy of the judgment, respect for constitutional and international human rights protections, and the safeguarding of civic space from harassment and abuse of legal processes.
They also called on Nigerian institutions to demonstrate stronger commitment to constitutionalism, democratic accountability and the rule of law.
Signatories to the statement included ActionAid Nigeria, Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation, Centre for Democracy and Development, Media Rights Agenda, Yiaga Africa, Transition Monitoring Group and several other civic and advocacy groups.
