A coalition of over 50 civil society organisations, human rights advocates and public interest groups has expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the reported defamation judgment obtained by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
In a joint statement issued on Monday, the groups warned that the controversy surrounding the case raises broader concerns about judicial transparency, civic freedom and adherence to constitutional principles in Nigeria’s democracy.
The coalition noted that intense public reactions and commentaries emerged over the judgment despite reports that neither the Certified True Copy (CTC) nor the full text of the court decision had been publicly released at the time.
According to the organisations, timely public access to judgments remains essential to procedural fairness, appellate rights and public confidence in the justice system.
Citing Section 36(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, the groups stressed that the right to fair hearing extends beyond courtroom proceedings and includes transparency and meaningful access to judicial decisions.
They also referenced constitutional protections under Section 39(1), which guarantees freedom of expression, alongside international human rights instruments including Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The coalition argued that restrictions affecting civic expression and public-interest advocacy must satisfy principles of legality, necessity and proportionality in a democratic society.
The statement further warned that delays in releasing Certified True Copies of judgments in matters of public importance could undermine confidence in the judiciary, weaken civic engagement and obstruct legitimate legal processes, including appeals.
The organisations also cautioned against what they described as the increasing use of defamation suits and coercive legal mechanisms in matters involving anti-corruption advocacy and public accountability campaigns.
According to the coalition, civil society organisations play a vital role in democratic governance by scrutinising public institutions and engaging in robust public-interest advocacy without fear of intimidation or disproportionate retaliation.
The groups maintained that seeking appellate review of a judgment should not be interpreted as disrespect for the judiciary, insisting that the constitutional right of appeal remains a fundamental component of the justice system.
Among other demands, the coalition called for the immediate release of the Certified True Copy of the judgment, respect for constitutional freedoms, protection of civic space and greater institutional restraint in public commentary on judicial matters where underlying court records are yet to be publicly available.
The statement was jointly endorsed by several prominent organisations, including ActionAid Nigeria, Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Media Rights Agenda, Yiaga Africa, SERAP, CISLAC, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Global Rights and the International Press Centre, among others.
The coalition stressed that Nigeria’s democracy depends not only on elections and institutions but also on the preservation of civic freedoms, judicial integrity, procedural fairness and the rule of law.