Appeal Court Fixes October 13 for SERAP, DSS Defamation Appeals
Abuja, Nigeria - The Appeal Court has scheduled the hearing of the defamation appeals filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwatayo, against the Department of State Services (DSS). The appeals relate to a previous judgment by the Federal High Court that found them liable for defaming two DSS officials.
Background
The defamation suit was filed by two DSS officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, who accused SERAP and Oluwatayo of defaming them in publications.
Appeals Schedule
The Appeal Court has scheduled the hearing of both appeals for October 13th. The court will consider the grounds raised by SERAP and Oluwatayo, including their arguments that the publications did not identify the two DSS officials by name, rank, designation, office, or photo, and that there was no independent witness to confirm that the descriptions used in the publications referred to the two officials.
Defendants' Counsel
- Defendants' counsel, Tayo Ojo, argued that the court should not entertain the appeals as they were filed after the mandatory 14-day deadline for filing appeals.
- Ojo also claimed that the court should not consider the appeals since the plaintiffs (SERAP and Oluwatayo) failed to prove that the publications caused any harm to the two officials.
Plaintiffs' Counsel
- Plaintiffs' counsel, Femi Falana, argued that the court should not dismiss the appeals based on the time limit.
- Falana maintained that the court should consider the appeals because the publications did not falsely identify the two officials by name, rank, designation, office, or photo, and that there was no independent witness to confirm that the descriptions used in the publications referred to the two officials.
Judgment
The Appeal Court is expected to deliver its judgment on October 18th. The court will determine whether the defamation suits filed by Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele against SERAP and Kolawole Oluwatayo should be entertained.
Publication Details
- The publications in question were published on September 29, 2024, in Daily Trust newspaper and Premium Times, alleging that the DSS officials had invaded SERAP's office and harassed its staff.
- The publications did not mention the officials' names, ranks, designations, offices, or photographs, nor did they provide any independent witness that confirmed the descriptions used in the publications referred to the two officials.
Background
The defamation suits were filed by Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele against SERAP and Kolawole Oluwatayo on September 30, 2024.
Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele claim that the publications defamed them and caused them harm.
Events
- On September 29, 2024, SERAP and Oluwatayo published articles in Daily Trust newspaper and Premium Times accusing the DSS officials of invading their office and harassing their staff.
- The publications did not include the officials' names, ranks, designations, offices, or photographs, nor did they provide any independent witness to confirm the descriptions used in the publications referred to the two officials.
Judgment Date
The Appeal Court has scheduled the judgment to be delivered on October 18, 2024.
The court will determine whether the defamation suits filed by Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele against SERAP and Kolawole Oluwatayo on September 30, 2024.
Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele claim that the publications defamed them and caused them harm.
Appeal Court
The Appeal Court will hear the appeals filed by SERAP and Kolawole Oluwatayo on October 18, 2024.
The court will determine whether the defamation suits filed by Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele against SERAP and Kolawole Oluwatayo on September 30, 2024.
Sarah John and Gabriel Ogun
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>