A coalition of civil society organisations has called on the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Department of State Services (Department of State Services) to respect the ruling of the Federal Capital Territory High Court and avoid actions or statements that could heighten national tension.
The group, made up of the Green Assembly Initiative and the Nigeria Youth Organisation, made the appeal during a press briefing in Abuja, urging all parties in the dispute to allow the appellate process to take its full course.
The coalition was reacting to the May 5, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court in a case involving SERAP and DSS officials. The court ruled that publications arising from a September 2024 incident—where SERAP alleged that DSS operatives unlawfully invaded its office—were defamatory. The judgment also awarded damages against SERAP and issued further orders, including directives for public apologies and post-judgment interest.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Ambassador Duke Alamboye, National Secretary of Nigerian Youths in Politics and Convener of the National Security Summit, stressed the importance of judicial respect in maintaining national stability.
“The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and must be respected,” he said, warning that inflammatory public statements could undermine confidence in the justice system.
While acknowledging the right of any party to appeal, Alamboye cautioned against what he described as escalating public commentary, saying it risks deepening tensions and distorting perceptions of both the courts and security agencies.
He added that the proper channel for dispute resolution remains the appellate courts, not media confrontations.
“We reiterate that Nigeria’s democracy is strengthened not by public confrontation with judicial outcomes, but by adherence to due process, respect for the courts, and responsible civic engagement,” he said.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the Coalition of Patriotic Youth Leaders, Comrade Rikki Nwajiofor, urged restraint from all sides, noting that respect for court rulings is essential for democratic stability.
He advised SERAP to pursue an appeal if dissatisfied with the judgment rather than engaging in what he called inflammatory public remarks.
“If you are not comfortable with the outcome of the judgment, then go on appeal. The political atmosphere in the country is already tense,” he said.
The coalition maintained that its position was neutral, stressing that its concern was the preservation of the rule of law and avoidance of actions that could escalate national discord.
Coalition Urges SERAP, DSS to Respect Court Judgment, Avoid Tension
