The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday vacated an earlier order reserving judgement in the defamation appeal involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and two State Security Service (SSS) officers, directing that case be reschuled for fresh hearing.
Vanguard newspaper reported that the Judge Danlami Senchi-led panel of the court issued the directive during hearing into two related appeals filed by SERAP and its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, against the 5 May N100 million judgement of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja holding them liable for defaming two SSS operatives.
“All the two files are hereby returned to the Presiding Justice, Abuja Division … for decision on a date for hearing of both appeals that is going to be communicated to the parties,” Mr Senchi said. He also vacated the order reserving appeal CA/ABJ/CV/1114/2026 for judgement.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Mr Oluwadare’s lawyer, Oluwatosin Adesioye, sought permission to amend the prayers in an application concerning additional records of appeal and an extension of time to challenge the lower court’s decision. But Mr Senchi said the court was “finding it difficult to grant the prayers” and advised the lawyer to refine the application. Mr Adesioye subsequently withdrew it, and the court struck it out without objection from the respondents.
The court also considered applications by Columbia University, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre to participate in the appeal as amici curiae, or friends of the court. Lawyer for the applicants said the case raised questions about constitutional and fundamental rights with implications beyond Nigeria.
Mr Senchi noted that the applicants were not parties to the original suit and that their participation was subject to the court’s discretion. After he indicated