CSOs Tell SERAP to Stop Social Media Drama and Respect the Bench; Groups Protest at Eagle Square After ₦100m Defamation Judgment Favors DSS

The “legal trenches” of Abuja have become a battlefield of ideologies following a landmark ₦100 million defamation ruling against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). Today Wednesday, May 13, 2026, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) broke ranks with the prominent rights group, urging them to abandon their “digital-age” media campaign and stick strictly to the courtroom for their appeal.

The tension follows a May 5 judgment by Justice Yusuf Halilu, which found that SERAP had defamed two DSS officials during a controversial September 2024 incident. The court ruled that SERAP’s claims of an “unlawful invasion” were untrue and ordered the organization to pay ₦100 million, issue public apologies on television, and settle litigation costs. SERAP has since launched a “technical rescue” of its reputation, filing a formal appeal and describing the judgment as a “textbook example of judicial harassment.”

However, not everyone in the civil society portal is standing in solidarity. Speaking during a protest at Eagle Square, Dr. Duke Alamboye, convener of the Green Assembly Initiative, warned that “attacking the judiciary on X (formerly Twitter) is not a substitute for evidence.” He emphasized that the APC-led administration’s 2027 transition cycle requires a stable and respected judiciary. “As CSOs, we must be the first to uphold the rule of law, even when a judgment doesn’t favor our colleagues,” Alamboye stated.

The Coalition of Patriotic Youth Leaders, led by Comrade Rikki Nwajiofor, echoed this “Value-Addition” to the debate, suggesting that SERAP’s refusal to quietly pursue its appeal is “escalating tensions” unnecessarily. The group maintained that they are not taking sides with the DSS but are focused on preventing a “technical fracture” in the public’s trust in the courts.

The drama has created a rare “split” in the human rights community. While some veteran activists are calling SERAP’s defiance a “courageous stand for civic space,” others see it as a “misguided war” against a valid court order. With SERAP’s stay of execution application still pending, the message from the streets of Abuja is clear: the portal for justice is the Court of Appeal, not the court of public opinion.