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SERAP Appeals N100m DSS Defamation Judgment

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has appealed the N100 million defamation judgment delivered against it by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in favour of officials of the Department of State Services.

 

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation also filed an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of the appeal.

The appeal, filed on Friday by Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, challenged the May 5, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Yusuf Halilu, which awarded N100 million in damages to DSS officials Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele over alleged defamation.

The court had also ordered SERAP to publish public apologies, pay N1 million in litigation costs and a 10 per cent annual post-judgment interest on the damages until fully paid.

SERAP described the ruling as “a travesty and miscarriage of justice,” arguing that the judgment was legally and procedurally flawed.

The organisation stated that its notice of appeal would be amended after obtaining the Certified True Copy of the judgment to include additional portions highlighting what it called defects in the ruling.

In the appeal, SERAP argued that the trial court relied on defective evidence, including a witness statement allegedly not sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths.

It partly reads, “The lower court erred in law in holding that the words complained of were published of and concerning the Claimants personally, contrary to the established objective test for identification in the tort of defamation.

“Particulars Of Error: the lower court failed to apply the objective test laid down by the Supreme Court in Ologe v. New Africa Holdings Ltd and Abalaka v. Akinsete, which requires that words be understood as referring to the claimant by right-thinking members of society generally, not by a specialised or institutional group.

“The lower court erroneously relied on the subjective perception of the respondents and their colleagues within the Department of State Services (the ‘DSS’.”

SERAP further argued that the court failed to uphold its defences of justification, qualified privilege and fair comment, insisting that the publications were substantially true and made in the public interest.

The organisation also maintained that the DSS officials failed to prove reputational injury, financial loss or any actual harm resulting from the publications.

“The lower court failed to apply the settled principle of law that an individual member of a large class, body, or institution cannot maintain an action for defamation unless the words complained of, clearly and specifically identify that individual,” it reads.

“The DSS is a large institution, and the words complained of did not specifically, directly, or uniquely identify the Respondents.”

“The Respondents had no locus standi to maintain an action against SERAP. The lower court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the Respondents’ action.”

SERAP is asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the entire judgment and dismiss the suit for lacking merit. In its application for stay of execution, the organisation warned that enforcing the judgment could severely disrupt its operations and affect ongoing human rights, transparency and accountability programmes.

SERAP stated that execution of the judgment could also hinder its ability to finance and pursue the appeal process effectively.

“Thousands of individuals and communities depend on SERAP’s work, including victims of human rights violations and beneficiaries of its advocacy, investigations, and legal interventions. Halting our operations would have far-reaching consequences for public interest work and access to justice in Nigeria.”

“SERAP is committed to pursuing the appeal diligently and in accordance with the rule of law. The case raises broader concerns about the protection of civic space, the ability of civil society organisations to operate without undue interference, and the importance of safeguarding public interest advocacy.”

“The enforcement of the judgment would deprive SERAP of its constitutional right of appeal, as it would be unable to adequately finance the prosecution of its appeal to the Court of Appeal. The balance of convenience is in favour of the granting of this application and/or making of the injunctive order sought.”

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Court Arraigns Journalist In Benue

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A Benue State High Court, presided over by Justice Mary Abounu, has arraigned the Benue State correspondent of Aljazirah Newspaper, Henry Ibya, in Makurdi over alleged cyberstang.

 

The trial judge had sought the prosecution’s response to the defendant’s argument that the journalist was reliable and should be granted bail.

The absence of the prosecution counsel in court did not stop the proceedings, as the defendant’s counsel, Tom Uja, Esq., notified the court of his bail application for his client.

He stated that the prosecution had taken the journalist to two other courts in the state on the same charge and that his client had never failed to appear in court whenever required.

Although the prosecutor’s absence did not affect the judge’s decision to proceed and grant bail, which was also believed to be in the interest of justice, the matter was adjourned until November 5, 2026.

One Terna Abuul, said to be the Director of ICT at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, reported Henry Ibya to the Nigeria Police Force, Benue State Command.

The director had accused the journalist of allegedly reporting mismanagement in the institution’s ICT department.

According to Abuul, Ibya’s report accused him of wrongdoing.

On the strength of the said report, the journalist was arraigned before the High Court in Makurdi.

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64 Dead, 80 Injured As Two High-Speed Trains Collide

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At least 64 people have been killed and dozens seriously injured after two high-speed trains collided near Urda, south of Madrid, in one of Spain’s deadliest rail disasters in more than a decade.

 

The Castilla-La Mancha regional government confirmed the death toll as emergency crews continued rescue operations at the crash site. More than 500 passengers were travelling on the two trains involved, according to a regional government spokesperson.

The BBC reports that the collision of the two trains involved a Renfe high-speed train and an Iryo service operating on the Madrid-to-Seville route. Aerial images analysed by the broadcaster showed parts of the Renfe train leaving the tracks, while carriages of the Iryo train also derailed.

The cause of the collision had not been officially confirmed. However, Spanish media cited preliminary accounts suggesting that the Renfe train struck the Iryo service, which may have been stationary following a problem on the tracks.

The scale of the disaster prompted a major emergency response involving ambulances, helicopters, rescue teams and police officers. At least 80 people were reported injured, with about 50 believed to be in serious condition and 15 in critical condition, according to regional officials.

Several victims were transported to hospitals in nearby areas, while others were taken to Madrid for treatment. Hospitals in Toledo, Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan reportedly suspended planned surgeries to accommodate casualties from the crash.

Blood transfusion centres in Madrid and Toledo also appealed for urgent donations to meet a possible surge in demand.

Survivors described scenes of panic and severe destruction. One passenger, Sebastián Herrero, told Spanish newspaper El Mundo that he felt a powerful impact that threw him into the seats ahead. He said injured passengers had broken noses and arms, while smoke spread through the carriages.

Another passenger, Iñaki, told El País that the impact sent him rolling across the floor. After escaping, he saw injured people and bodies around the wreckage.

BBC Verify also examined images and videos appearing to show a section of railway track piercing through a Renfe carriage, with approximately 10 metres of rail protruding through its roof.

The disaster has revived concerns about railway safety in Spain, which suffered another deadly high-speed rail accident near Córdoba in which 46 people died. The country’s previous worst rail disaster occurred in July 2013, when 80 people were killed in a derailment near Santiago de Compostela.

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he was shocked by the crash and remained in contact with the transport minister. The Spanish royal family also expressed condolences to victims’ relatives and praised emergency workers.

Meanwhile, the Royal Spanish Football Federation postponed 24 Copa del Rey matches in solidarity with the victims, while most political parties suspended campaign activities.

Rescue and recovery operations continued as authorities worked to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collision.

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Police Arrest Suspected Eiye Cultist, Recover Two Pistols, Cartridges In Ogun

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Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Squad of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 26-year-old suspected cultist and recovered two locally made pistols, three live cartridges and a battle axe in the Atan area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Council of the state.

 

The suspect, identified as Okiki Muhammed Adewusi, popularly known as “Baba Obo”, was arrested in the Ore area of Atan on October 26, 2026, following intelligence received by operatives of SWAT Base 7, Abule Iroko, Sango-Ota.

The Police Spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the arrest in a statement in Abeokuta yesterday.

According to Babaseyi, a search of the suspect’s residence after his arrest led to the recovery of a locally made pistol and three live cartridges.

He added that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had allegedly admitted to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

Babaseyi said information obtained from the suspect led to a follow-up operation at about 6.30 a.m. on October 27, 2026 during which operatives recovered a second locally made pistol and a battle axe from a separate location.

The recovered items have been secured as exhibits, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects believed to be involved in the activities and recover additional weapons.

The police spokesperson said investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the case.

The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the SWAT operatives for their vigilance, professionalism and effective use of intelligence.

Ojajuni reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks, curbing cult-related activities and tackling the illegal possession of firearms across the state.

He urged residents to provide timely and credible information about suspected criminal activities, assuring them that the Command would act on actionable intelligence to protect lives and property and maintain public safety.

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