IHRDA raises concern over defamation judgment against SERAP

The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) has expressed concern over the N100 million defamation judgment awarded against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), warning that the ruling could have a chilling effect on civic space and public-interest advocacy in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on June 24, the pan-African human rights organisation said the judgment, delivered by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on May 5, 2026, raises broader concerns about freedom of expression and the protection of civil society organisations.
The court had awarded N100 million in damages and N1 million in legal costs against SERAP in a...