By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
A coalition of 52 Nigerian civil society organisations has called for the immediate release of the Certified True Copy of the defamation judgment reportedly obtained by officials of the Department of State Services against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.
The groups said the delay in making the judgment public is undermining transparency, the right to fair hearing, and public confidence in the judiciary.
In a joint press statement , the organisations noted that much of the public discourse on the case emerged before the full text or CTC of the judgment was available.
They warned that commenting on and reacting to a judgment without access to its content raises concerns about procedural fairness, institutional responsibility, and adherence to due process.
The coalition cited Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every person the right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court.
They argued that the guarantee extends beyond courtroom proceedings to include transparency, access to judicial decisions, and a meaningful opportunity to exercise appellate rights.
The groups also referenced Section 39(1) and Section 22 of the Constitution, which protect freedom of expression and impose a democratic obligation on the media and civic actors to hold government accountable.
At the international level, the statement invoked 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 impart information.
The African Charter is domesticated in Nigerian law through the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act and has been recognised as enforceable by Nigerian courts.
The coalition said timely access to judgments is central to the administration of justice, noting that without it, litigants cannot evaluate their legal position or pursue informed appellate review.
They quoted the Supreme Court’s position that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done, adding that fair hearing remains the bedrock of constitutional adjudication in Nigeria.
The organisations expressed concern over what they described as the increasing use of defamation litigation and coercive legal measures against anti-corruption and public accountability actors.
They said democratic societies depend on the ability of civil society to question authority and scrutinise public institutions without fear of disproportionate retaliation.
The coalition also stressed that seeking appellate review of a judgment cannot be construed as contempt for the judiciary or disobedience to the rule of law.
They called for institutional restraint in public commentary on judicial matters where underlying records are not publicly available.
The groups urged protection of civic space and public-interest advocacy from intimidation, harassment, and misuse of legal processes.
Their demands include the immediate release of the CTC, respect for constitutional and international human rights protections, and continued commitment to constitutionalism and democratic accountability.
The signatories include ActionAid Nigeria, Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation, CISLAC, SERAP, Yiaga Africa, HEDA Resource Centre, and Media Rights Agenda, among others.
They concluded that Nigeria’s democracy depends on the preservation of civic freedom, judicial integrity, procedural fairness, and the rule of law.
