Abuja: Are lawsuits becoming tools against public participation? The report further advocated public enlightenment campaigns, improved documentation of cases and the enactment of legal safeguards against abusive litigation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, HBBA, which convened the meeting, said the growing trend informed its intervention project titled, ‘Defending the Defenders: Enhancing Action Against Suppressive Laws and Lawsuits in Nigeria’. The organisation, supported by the National Endowment for Democracy, aims to confront the misuse of legal systems as instruments of repression.
In furtherance of this objective, the Programme Manager of HBBA, Nurudeen Hassan, stated that the organisation had undertaken a number of initiatives. These include a podcast series featuring journalists and media experts, an online explainer course on SLAPPs, and advocacy for the passage of the Human Rights Defenders Bill. Hassan also mentioned the provision of pro bono legal support to victims and the development of a web-based platform known as the SLAPPs Monitor.
According to him, the platform is expected to document incidents across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT while connecting victims with legal support services. The initiative, stakeholders say, could help address one of the biggest challenges associated with SLAPPs; inadequate documentation and limited public awareness.
“Across Nigeria, lawsuits are increasingly being used not only to seek justice, but as tools to intimidate and silence journalists, activists and civic actors,” Hassan said. Legal practitioner and human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, argued that one of the major obstacles confronting victims was lack of financial resources.
According to him, many victims are unable to afford legal representation and are often dependent on lawyers willing to handle cases free of charge. To bridge this gap, Effiong proposed the establishment of a National Anti-SLAPP Endowment Fund to provide financial support for journalists, activists and other individuals facing suppressive litigation.
He argued that the availability of such resources would discourage those who weaponise the legal system against critics. “If resources are available to support victims, those initiating these suits will become more careful because they know the targets can defend themselves,” he said.
Effiong also called for stronger accountability measures against public officials and institutions that violate media rights. He suggested that media organisations should consider collective actions, including temporary blacklisting of public institutions or officials that consistently target journalists. According to him, naming and shaming offenders could serve as a deterrent and reinforce respect for press freedom.
Observers say the concerns raised at the validation meeting reflect broader challenges confronting democratic societies around the world. Notably, experts argue that legal intimidation represents a more subtle threat to press freedom than outright censorship.
Unlike direct restrictions on media operations, SLAPPs often proceed through legitimate judicial channels, making them more difficult to identify and challenge. Yet, their impact can be equally damaging, creating a chilling effect that encourages self-censorship and reduces public scrutiny of those in positions of authority.
While the right to seek legal redress remains fundamental, stakeholders insist that the judicial system should not be manipulated to intimidate citizens exercising their constitutional rights. They argue that without deliberate safeguards, the growing use of suppressive litigation could discourage investigative journalism, weaken civic engagement and undermine democratic accountability.
As Nigeria continues its democratic journey, stakeholders believe that protecting journalists, activists and ordinary citizens from abusive legal actions is essential to preserving freedom of expression and ensuring that public participation remains vibrant and meaningful. Ultimately, they contend that the debate over SLAPPs is not merely about lawsuits or legal procedure; it is about safeguarding the democratic space that enables citizens to speak, question authority and hold power to account without fear.
For them, protecting that space is indispensable to strengthening transparency, accountability and public trust in governance.