The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday barred United Nations Special Rapporteurs and Columbia University from participating in the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project’s suit against the Department of State Services.
A three-member panel led by Justice Danlami Senchi also reserved judgment in SERAP’s appeal against a N100 million defamation award delivered against the organisation by the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The appeal challenges the May 5, 2026 judgment of Justice Yusuf Halilu. SERAP’s counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to award damages to Sarah John over a publication that allegedly referred to Sarah David. He questioned how the lower court had established the description of a “tall, large, dark-skinned” woman without a photograph and urged the appellate court to allow the appeal.
Counsel for the first and second respondents, O.S. Kehinde, asked the court to dismiss the appeal. He maintained that SERAP had not shown that Sarah John and Sarah David were different persons, adding that an individual could recognise themselves from a published description even when their name was not expressly stated.
Justice Senchi said the date for judgment would be communicated to the parties.
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