The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu and his administration to “direct the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately withdraw the baseless defamation lawsuit by their proxies against our organization and management staff, and to stop the ‘weaponization’ of the country’s security agencies to target Nigerians simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.”
Following claims made by SERAP about the recent invasion of its Abuja office by certain DSS officials, two specified DSS officials filed a defamation case against SERAP last week.
“We are extremely concerned that your government appears to be weaponizing the DSS and abusing defamation laws as a tool of repression and to target those who defend human rights,” the organization stated in an open letter signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare on October 19, 2024.
“Your government is targeting those who campaign for actions in these areas, rather than addressing the allegations of widespread corruption in the oil sector, the country’s worsening economic situation, and lowering the cost of governance,” SERAP added.
In part, the letter stated: “We would appreciate it if the suggested actions are taken right away after this letter is received and/or published.”
“We will be ready to defend our company and management team in court and to join your government and DSS in the case if it is not immediately dropped. In order to uphold justice, put a stop to impunity for violations of human rights, and serve the legitimate public interest in this issue, this may entail calling witnesses.
Since 2004, we have brought a number of public interest lawsuits against the administrations of former presidents Muhammadu Buhari, Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. This is the first time a government has used the nation’s security forces as a weapon to threaten and target our group.
“Our organization is unaware of the identities of the two DSS personnel who filed the slander case. It appears that the DSS, which is under your supervision, initiated and funded the lawsuit filed by these officers.
“The freedom to organize and exercise human rights without fear of unfounded lawsuits from your government, its security agencies, and/or their proxies is crucial for human rights defenders, activists, journalists, and other citizens.”
“Using the security services as weapons to threaten, harass, and silence journalists, activists, human rights advocates, and other members of civil society will erode the rule of law, erode representative democracy, and increase impunity.”
“Your government should take action to fully, independently, impartially, transparently, and effectively investigate the allegations made by SERAP instead of abusing the security agencies to crack down on human rights defenders, activists, journalists, and other civil society actors.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) should immediately reverse the ostensibly unlawful and unconstitutional increase in the price of gasoline at all of its retail locations. We are disappointed that your government has not yet acted upon our recommendations.
“Despite allegedly failing to remit oil revenues to the treasury and to prosecute suspected perpetrators, your government has also failed to investigate the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, including the spending of the reported $300 million ‘bailout funds’ collected from the Federal Government in August 2024 and the $6 billion debt it owes suppliers.”
Additionally, your government still disobeys a number of court rulings that SERAP was able to obtain, such as those that mandated that the Federal Government reveal the specifics of the deal with X, formerly Twitter, in order to determine whether it complies with Nigerians’ online human rights and to account for N729 billion in payments made to 24.3 million impoverished Nigerians over a six-month period.
“SERAP also called on you and your government to order the DSS to stop harassing and intimidating our organization and our employees on September 9, 2024.”
Our call came after several DSS officials broke into our Abuja office. After that, SERAP received a slander action with the case number CV/4547/24.
“Human rights, especially the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and media freedom, as well as socioeconomic rights, have been increasingly suppressed in the country under your government.”
“The Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the nation’s international human rights obligations are completely at odds with the judicial harassment of those who peacefully defend human rights.”
“Under your government, journalists, human rights advocates, activists, and other civil society actors—including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) leadership—continue to be harassed, intimidated, and arbitrarily detained for the mere act of performing their lawful duties.”
“Your government and its agencies’ judicial harassment of SERAP demonstrates animosity towards civil society actors who defend the rights of other citizens, denounce human rights abuses, and confront a culture of impunity for offenders.”
Therefore, “SERAP calls on your government to stop the threats, harassment, and intimidation inflicted by irrational legal procedures against our organization, management personnel, other human rights defenders, activists, journalists, and other civil society actors.”
“SERAP works to guarantee that our anticorruption and human rights initiatives adhere to the strictest criteria of politically neutral analytical rigor. The core values of justice, fairness, solidarity, and the universality of human rights are the only things that motivate our activity. No government is immune from criticism and accountability, according to SERAP.
“SERAP has received widespread national and international recognition for its nonpartisan work in the areas of human rights and anticorruption. In addition to being nominated for the Ford Foundation’s Jubilee Transparency Award and the UN Civil Society Award, our organization was honored with the Wole Soyinka Anti-Corruption Defender Award in 2014. Additionally, SERAP received a nomination for the Columbia Global Freedom of Expression Prizes in 2024.
“The constitutional and international obligations of your government to Nigerians who are victims of corruption, as well as your constitutional oath of office, are the foundation for our organization’s calls on your government regarding the ongoing increases in fuel prices and the NNPC corruption allegations.”
“SERAP believes that any government in a society where the rule of law is upheld can be inspired to fulfill its obligations and satisfy the expectations of its citizens for human rights, good governance, and the rule of law by taking actions such as these.”
“SERAP calls on your government to uphold the rule of law, which will require that Nigerians’ human rights be respected.” There is probably less corruption in areas where the rule of law is valued.
“Since the rule of law is the cornerstone of any civilized society, your government is unlikely to succeed in implementing your frequently stated economic and development programs if it does not embrace it.”
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