CSOs urge FG to drop defamation suit against SERAP

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) and individuals has called on President Bola Tinubu’s government to immediately cease the intimidation and harassment of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), an independent anti-corruption watchdog.

The CSOs also urged the government to halt its escalating crackdown on human rights defenders, journalists, activists, and other civil society actors simply for engaging in legitimate work.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, the organisations demanded the immediate withdrawal of a “bogus” defamation lawsuit filed against SERAP, highlighting the growing attempts to silence dissenting voices across Nigeria.

Among the signatory to the statement are Amnesty International; Accountability Lab; Budgit; Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID); CISLAC; Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA); Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC); Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and YIAGA.

The lawsuit comes after SERAP’s letter to President Tinubu, urging him to probe corruption allegations against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and reverse the recent hike in petrol pump prices.

Following this, the Department of State Services (DSS) unexpectedly raided SERAP’s Abuja office.

According to SERAP, some officers from DSS invaded our Abuja office. A tall, large, dark-skinned woman entered our office, accompanied by a slim, dark-skinned man. Other officers were sighted in two unmarked vehicles stationed outside our office. The officers who interrogated our staff requested to see our directors.

In response to the raid, two DSS officers have filed a defamation lawsuit against SERAP, seeking N5 billion in damages.

The CSOs expressed deep concern over the government’s actions, seeing them as part of a broader pattern of repression against civil society in the country. They stressed that the harassment of SERAP is part of a wider crackdown on freedom of expression, media freedom, and the rights of human rights defenders.

“The intimidation and harassment of SERAP followed the invasion of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights’ (CDHR) office in Ikeja, Lagos in August by armed security personnel and the invasion of the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the arbitrary arrest of NLC President Joe Ajaero by the DSS in September at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,” the statement read.

The CSOs also raised alarm over the widespread repression of peaceful protesters, journalists, and civil society actors under President Tinubu’s leadership. They pointed to incidents such as the unlawful arrest of journalists and activists, including Dele Fasan of Galaxy Television and Madu Onuorah of Global Upfront, who were targeted for doing their jobs.

The statement continued, “Nigeria is now rated as one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for human rights defenders, activists, labour leaders, journalists and other civil society actors.”

Highlighting the serious human rights violations occurring under the current administration, the CSOs called for immediate action to reverse the repression and protect the rights of Nigerians to peacefully assemble, express themselves, and engage in civil society activities without fear of retaliation.

They concluded by urging President Tinubu and his government to end the escalating crackdown on human rights defenders, civil society organisations, journalists, and activists. “Authorities must uphold their constitutional and international human rights obligations and end the brutal assault on the human rights community in the country,” they said.