The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) challenging a N100 million defamation judgment awarded against the organisation by the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

A three-member panel led by Justice Danlami Senchi reserved judgment on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, after hearing arguments from SERAP’s counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, and counsel for the first and second respondents, O.S. Kehinde.

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The appeal challenges a judgment delivered on May 5, 2026, by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court.

The appellate court said the date for delivering its judgment would be communicated to the parties.

During the proceedings, Oyetibo argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to award damages in favour of Sarah John over a publication that allegedly referred to Sarah David.

SERAP’s counsel also questioned how the trial court established the identity of the person described in the publication as a “tall, large, dark-skinned” woman without a photograph.

He urged the Court of Appeal to allow SERAP’s appeal and overturn the lower court’s decision.

The arguments centred on the identification of the person allegedly referred to in the publication and whether the trial court had the legal authority to award the damages.

However, Kehinde urged the appellate court to dismiss SERAP’s appeal, arguing that the organisation had failed to establish that Sarah John and Sarah David were two different people.

He maintained that a person could identify themselves from a publication based on the description provided, even if their name was not expressly mentioned.

The court heard arguments from both sides before reserving judgment.

No final decision has been announced, and the N100 million award remains the subject of the appeal pending the court’s ruling.

The Court of Appeal also struck out applications by Columbia University, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of assembly, and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre seeking to participate in the proceedings as amici curiae—a legal term for individuals or organisations permitted to assist a court by offering information or perspectives relevant to a case.

The applicants withdrew their requests after the panel indicated that it saw no need for their intervention.

Justice Senchi subsequently said the date for judgment would be communicated to the parties.

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The ruling is expected to determine the outcome of SERAP’s challenge to the High Court judgment, although the appellate court has yet to announce when its decision will be delivered.