A coalition of civil society organisations, human rights advocates and public interest groups has expressed concern over the recent defamation judgment obtained by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), warning of its implications for civic freedoms and judicial transparency in Nigeria.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the groups said the development has generated widespread public discourse despite reports that the Certified True Copy (CTC) and the full text of the judgment had not been made publicly available.
The statement, endorsed by over 50 organisations, raised concerns about procedural fairness, institutional responsibility and adherence to due process.
The organisations noted that the absence of the judgment at the time of public reactions undermines key principles of constitutional democracy, stressing that access to judicial decisions is essential for transparency and accountability.
Citing Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the coalition emphasised that the right to fair hearing includes not only proceedings in court but also transparency and access to judgments.
They also referenced Section 39(1), which guarantees freedom of expression, and Section 22, which places a responsibility on the media to hold government accountable.
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“The constitutional guarantee of fair hearing extends beyond courtroom proceedings and necessarily encompasses transparency, access to judicial decisions, and a meaningful opportunity to exercise appellate rights,” the statement read.
The groups further drew attention to international human rights frameworks, including Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which protect the right to receive and disseminate information.
They expressed concern over what they described as a delay in the release of the Certified True Copy of the judgment, warning that such delays could hinder litigants from evaluating their legal position and pursuing appellate review.
According to the statement, timely access to court judgments is central to the administration of justice and public confidence in the judiciary.
“Without access to the judgment, litigants may be unable to properly evaluate their legal position, pursue informed appellate review, or respond responsibly in the public domain,” the coalition said.
The organisations also cautioned against what they described as the increasing use of defamation suits and coercive legal measures in matters involving anti-corruption advocacy and public accountability.
They stressed that the right to appeal is a fundamental component of the justice system and should not be interpreted as disobedience to the rule of law.
“Seeking appellate review of a judgment cannot reasonably be construed as contempt for the judiciary,” the statement added.
The coalition called for the immediate release of the Certified True Copy of the judgment to ensure transparency and enable informed legal and public engagement.
It also urged respect for constitutional and international protections on fair hearing, freedom of expression and access to justice.
Additionally, the groups called for greater institutional restraint in public commentary on judicial matters where underlying records are not publicly available, while emphasising the need to protect civic space from intimidation and misuse of legal processes.
The statement reaffirmed that Nigeria’s democracy depends not only on elections and institutions but also on the preservation of civic freedom, judicial integrity, procedural fairness and the rule of law.
