Stakeholders have expressed deep concern over the increasing use of lawsuits to intimidate journalists, human rights defenders, and civic actors in Nigeria, warning that this trend is narrowing civic space and weakening democratic accountability. The concerns were raised on Tuesday in Abuja during a validation meeting on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) in Nigeria, organized by Hope Behind Bars Africa.
Understanding SLAPPs and Their Impact
Speaking at the event, the Programme Manager of Hope Behind Bars Africa, Nurudeen Hassan, described SLAPPs as lawsuits designed to suppress public participation rather than resolve genuine legal disputes. He explained that the organization's initiative, supported by the National Endowment for Democracy, aims to counter the misuse of legal systems against journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society organizations.
Hassan disclosed that the project includes awareness campaigns, capacity-building programs, and the development of a SLAPPs Monitor platform. This platform is intended to track SLAPP cases across Nigeria and connect victims with legal support. He further noted that the organization has built a network of lawyers offering pro bono services to victims of strategic litigation, emphasizing that the goal is to ensure that “the law serves as a shield for justice, not a weapon for intimidation.”
Research Findings on Legal Intimidation
Ogechi Ogu, Founder and Executive Director of the Public Awareness on Rights and Rehabilitation of Vulnerable Persons Initiative (PAR-RVP Initiative), stated that the research was prompted by increasing cases where individuals and institutions use the justice system to silence dissenting voices. She explained that the study identified a pattern where litigation is deployed not necessarily to seek justice, but to intimidate critics and discourage public participation in governance debates.
According to Ogu, this trend has led to rising self-censorship among journalists and civic actors, as many now fear the financial, legal, and personal consequences of speaking out on matters of public interest. The researcher noted that the study identified provisions of the Criminal Code, Penal Code, defamation laws, and Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act as commonly invoked instruments in SLAPP-related cases. She stressed that although defamation is ordinarily a civil matter, it is often pursued through criminal proceedings to exert pressure on targets.
NUJ's Commitment to Press Freedom
Grace Ike, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, also decried what she described as persistent attempts to silence journalists through legal intimidation. She reaffirmed the union's commitment to defending press freedom, stressing that journalists play a critical role in ensuring accountability in a democratic society. Ike commended the SLAPPs report and the proposed monitoring platform, noting that they would contribute to stronger advocacy for legal reforms and protection of press freedom in Nigeria.
