By Jelili Gbadamosi
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has adjourned hearing in appeals filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, against a ₦101 million defamation judgment involving two Department of State Services (DSS) officials.
The appeals were stalled on Friday after the appellate court discovered that Oluwadare’s legal team had filed his brief late, making it impossible for the two related cases to proceed together as scheduled.
Oluwadare’s counsel, Hannah Ayanwale, told the three-member panel, presided over by Justice Danlami Senchi, that her client’s brief was filed on Thursday and served on the respondents on Friday morning, shortly before the commencement of proceedings.
The explanation displeased the justices, who expressed concern that the lawyer had failed to notify the court earlier that the appeal was not ready for hearing.
Although SERAP’s appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1114/2026, had already been called, the court decided to set aside the proceedings because both appeals arose from the same judgment and should be heard together.
The court subsequently adjourned the two appeals until October 13, directing the respondents to file their briefs by October 12 and requiring the appellants to submit their reply briefs before the next hearing.
The appeals challenge a May 5 judgment by Justice Halilu Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, which found SERAP and Oluwadare liable for defaming DSS officials Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele.
The officials had sued over publications released on SERAP’s website and social media platforms alleging that DSS operatives invaded the organisation’s Abuja office and harassed its personnel on September 9, 2024.
In his ruling, Justice Yusuf held that the claimants had established the essential elements of defamation, rejecting the defendants’ defence of justification for failing to provide sufficient evidence to support their allegations.
The judge observed that terms such as “invasion,” “forceful entry” and “harassment” were used inaccurately, noting that the defendants had admitted during the trial that the DSS officials did not forcefully enter the premises or brandish weapons.
He ruled that the publications damaged the claimants’ professional reputations and awarded them ₦100 million in damages and ₦1 million in litigation costs.
The court also ordered SERAP and Oluwadare to publish public apologies on SERAP’s website, X account, two national newspapers and two television stations.
Additionally, the judgment stipulated an annual interest rate of 10 per cent on the awarded sum until full payment.
The appellate court is expected to resume hearing on October 13, when both appeals will be considered together.
