The Court of Appeal in Abuja has adjourned hearing in two appeals filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, over a ₦101 million defamation judgment, following the late filing of a brief by one of the appellants.
The appeals, which challenge a May 5 judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, were scheduled for hearing on Friday but could not proceed as planned after the court was informed that Oluwadare’s brief had only been filed on Thursday and served on the respondents shortly before the sitting.
When the appeal was called, counsel to Oluwadare, Hannah Ayanwale, told the three-member panel that the matter was not ready for hearing because the appellant had yet to meet the necessary filing requirements.
The explanation reportedly displeased the justices, who expressed concern that counsel had not notified the court earlier that the appeal was not ripe for hearing.
Although the panel, presided over by Justice Danlami Senchi, had commenced proceedings in SERAP’s separate appeal, it subsequently set aside the proceedings, ruling that both matters should be heard together because they arose from the same judgment.
The court adjourned the appeals until October 13, directing the respondents to file their briefs by October 12 and the appellant to file a reply brief before the next hearing.
The appeals stem from a suit instituted by two Department of State Services officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, over publications on SERAP’s website and social media platforms alleging that they invaded the organisation’s Abuja office on September 9, 2024, and harassed its officials.
In his judgment, Justice Halilu Yusuf held that the claimants had established the elements of defamation and rejected the defence of justification raised by SERAP and Oluwadare.
The judge observed that the defendants failed to substantiate their allegations, particularly their use of terms such as “invasion,” “forceful entry” and “harassment.”
He noted that the defendants had admitted during trial that the DSS officials neither forced their way into SERAP’s premises nor brandished weapons.
MUST READ: Food Scarcity: Youth Organisation Escalate Improved Food Production, Ageing Farmers Raise Concerns
Justice Yusuf held that the publications damaged the claimants’ professional reputations and affected them mentally and psychologically.
The court also dismissed the defendants’ objection to the competence of the suit, affirming that the claimants had the legal standing to institute the action and that the court had jurisdiction to hear it.
The judge awarded ₦100 million in damages against SERAP and Oluwadare, alongside ₦1 million as costs.
He further ordered them to publish a public apology on SERAP’s website and X account, in two national newspapers and on two television stations.
The judgment sum was also ordered to attract annual interest of 10 per cent from the date of judgment until full payment.
(Follow AIT News on WhatsApp, AfricaIndependentTV on YouTube, ait_online on Facebook and X (Formerly Twitter), and officialait on TikTok, Instagram and Threads)
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
