The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a ₦5.5 billion defamation lawsuit against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) over what it described as false allegations of an invasion of SERAP’s Abuja office by DSS officials.
The suit, filed on behalf of two DSS officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, claims that the alleged false statements made by SERAP have caused significant damage to the reputation of both the DSS and the officials involved.
The legal action was initiated on October 17 before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, marked as CV/4547/2024, with SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, listed as defendants.
In their statement, the claimants explained that John and Ogundele visited SERAP’s office in Abuja on September 9 to extend an invitation for a familiarization meeting between the DSS and SERAP’s leadership.
They were met by a staff member named Ruth, who requested a formal invitation letter after explaining that the organization’s management was out of the country.
The claimants stated that their interaction with Ruth was recorded and amicable. However, later that same day, SERAP posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account, alleging that DSS officers were unlawfully occupying its office.
The DSS lawsuit further claimed that SERAP also published a false statement on its website, alleging that a “tall, large, dark-skinned woman” and a “slim, dark-skinned man” from the DSS had invaded their office and interrogated staff.
This statement, the DSS argues, caused public outrage and criticism from international organizations, including Amnesty International, and high-profile figures like Femi Falana (SAN).
The DSS contended that the false claims have harmed the reputations of the officials, leading to internal investigations, suspensions, and accusations of unprofessionalism.
The claimants assert that these actions have subjected them to disciplinary procedures within the DSS.
The DSS is seeking the following reliefs from the court:
“An order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via the first defendant’s (SERAP’s) website, X (twitter) handle, two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television) for falsely accusing the claimants of unlawfully invading the first defendant’s office and interrogating the first defendant’s staff.
“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of ₦5billion as damages for the libellous statements published about the claimants.
“Interest on the sum of ₦5b at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is realised or liquidated.
“AN order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of ₦50million as costs of this action.”
The case has been assigned to Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the FCT, but a hearing date has not yet been set.