NEYGA Criticizes SERAP Following Court Ruling
The Northern Ethnic Youth Association General Assembly (NEYGA) has issued a strong condemnation of the Socio-Economic Rights and Responsibility Project (SERAP), labeling the organization’s reaction to a recent court judgment as a “travesty.” This ruling, handed down by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, mandates that SERAP pay N100 million in damages.
Alongside the financial penalty, the court also instructed SERAP to publish an apology in two national newspapers and on two television stations, aimed at two operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) who were accused of defamation. Shortly after the court’s decision, SERAP released a statement denouncing the verdict, describing it as a “travesty,” a “blow to Nigeria’s civic space,” and indicative of a “troubling pattern under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration,” particularly concerning the use of defamation laws to silence legitimate criticism and accountability.
In a counterstatement released in Kaduna on Wednesday, NEYGA labeled SERAP’s remarks as “highly troubling and irresponsible,” especially given its claimed mission to advocate for socio-economic rights and responsibilities. NEYGA expressed its dismay over SERAP’s “extremely disturbing and irresponsible outburst” following the High Court’s ruling, criticizing the organization for attempting to link the judgment to a broader attack on free speech. The statement was attributed to NEYGA’s spokesperson, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Mussa.
NEYGA further asserted that while SERAP seemingly champions socio-economic rights, it appears to hold others to a standard of accountability that it does not abide by itself. The organization questioned the inconsistency of SERAP’s position, pointing out the hypocrisy in praising a recent immunity order granted by the Federal High Court to the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), while simultaneously disparaging the court’s ruling on its own conduct as a “travesty.”
The group noted that SERAP’s interpretation of socio-economic rights should not solely benefit NGOs or any particular group. This perspective, NEYGA contends, was echoed by Justice Khalil Yusuf’s ruling, which stated that SERAP cannot pass blame onto others while simultaneously avoiding responsibility for defaming innocent citizens. NEYGA criticized SERAP for describing the High Court’s ruling as a “travesty,” highlighting that the organization currently has over 30 pending cases against various Nigerian government agencies.
NEYGA advised SERAP to adopt a more civil approach, highlighting the precedent set by the two DSS officers who initiated legal action instead of resorting to self-help measures—a rare occurrence in Nigeria’s history. This case marks a significant shift, as security officers previously did not seek legal recourse in such matters. The organization praised the DSS leadership for allowing its operatives to pursue justice through the court system.
NEYGA commended the Director General of DSS, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, for facilitating this legal recourse, emphasizing that this initiative validates the rights of individuals to protect themselves. NEYGA believes that this action not only enriches Nigeria’s legal landscape but also encourages other security agencies to recognize their own inalienable rights as citizens, without fear of repercussions. This commendable move by the DSS leadership is viewed as a crucial step towards fostering respect for legal rights across the country.
