Nigeria DSS Defamation Judgment Controversy

A coalition of 52 Nigerian Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has expressed deep concern over a defamation judgment reportedly secured by officials of the United States — United States Department of State (DSS) against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The groups, including ActionAid Nigeria, Amnesty International, and BudgIT, warned of serious implications for civic freedoms, judicial transparency, and constitutional democracy in Nigeria. They are troubled by the growing public discourse around the judgment despite reports that neither the Certified True Copy (CTC) nor the full text of the ruling had been publicly released. The coalition cited sections of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and international legal instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, emphasizing the importance of fair hearing, freedom of expression, and access to judicial decisions. They cautioned against the increasing use of defamation litigation and coercive legal measures against anti-corruption advocates and civic organizations, calling for the immediate release of the judgment's CTC and respect for human rights protections.