Kaduna, Nigeria — May 7, 2026
The Northern Ethnic Youth Group Assembly (NEYGA) has condemned the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for describing as “a travesty” the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which awarded N100 million in damages against the organisation.
The court had, in addition to the monetary award, ordered SERAP to publish apologies in two national newspapers and on two television stations to two Department of State Services (DSS) operatives allegedly defamed by the organisation.
Reacting to the judgment, SERAP issued a statement dismissing the verdict as “a travesty” and “a blow to civic space in Nigeria.”
However, in a statement issued in Kaduna, NEYGA described SERAP’s comments as deeply troubling and irresponsible for a group that claims to champion socio-economic rights and accountability.
The statement, signed by NEYGA spokesperson Ibrahim Dan-Musa, stated that while SERAP publicly portrays itself as an advocate for accountability, its reaction to the court ruling suggests otherwise.
“On the surface, SERAP pretends to live by its name — promoting socio-economic rights and accountability — but deep down, it would seem that SERAP would rather every other person or group, except itself, be held accountable,” the statement said.
NEYGA further argued that attacking the judiciary over an unfavourable judgment undermines public confidence in the nation’s legal institutions and weakens the principles of the rule of law.
The youth group maintained that no organisation, regardless of its public image or advocacy role, should be above accountability or exempt from judicial scrutiny.
It also urged civil society organisations to demonstrate respect for court decisions and pursue lawful channels if dissatisfied with any judgment, rather than resorting to public condemnation of the judiciary.
According to NEYGA, civic advocacy must be guided by responsibility, fairness, and respect for democratic institutions in order to preserve public trust and national stability.
