The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) challenging a N100 million defamation judgment awarded against the organisation by the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
A three-member panel led by Justice Danlami Senchi reserved judgment on Tuesday after hearing arguments from lawyers representing both parties.
SERAP, through its counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to award damages in favour of Sarah John over a publication allegedly referring to Sarah David.
Oyetibo also questioned the basis for identifying the woman described in the publication as “tall, large, dark-skinned,” arguing that the trial court failed to establish the identity through photographic evidence.
He urged the appellate court to set aside the judgment delivered on May 5, 2026, by Justice Yusuf Halilu.
However, counsel to the first and second respondents, O.S. Kehinde, urged the court to dismiss SERAP’s appeal, insisting that the organisation failed to prove that Sarah John and Sarah David were two different persons.
Kehinde maintained that an individual could identify herself from a publication based on the description provided, even where her name was not expressly mentioned.
Meanwhile, the appellate court struck out applications by Columbia University, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of assembly, and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre seeking to participate in the proceedings as amici curiae (friends of the court).
The applicants withdrew their applications after the panel indicated that it saw no need for their intervention.
Justice Senchi said the date for the delivery of judgment would be communicated to the parties.
More details later.
