DSS DISMISSES N5.5BN LAWSUIT AGAINST SERAP ON GROUNDS OF ALLEGED FALSE CLAIMS

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, or SERAP, is the target of a N5.5 billion defamation lawsuit from the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly making a false claim against it.The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, or SERAP, is the target of a N5.5 billion defamation lawsuit from the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly making a false claim against it.

In a lawsuit filed with the Federal Capital Territory’s High Court, the security agency claimed that SERAP had made up the story that DSS agents had broken into its Abuja office.

It informed the court that the false claim had a detrimental effect on the reputation of the company as well as two of its employees who were named as claimants in the case: Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele.

In the lawsuit with the file number CV/4547/2024, SERAP and Kolawole Oluwadare, its deputy director, are named as defendants.

In particular, the litigants instructed the two officials, John and Ogunleye, to visit SERAP’s office and invite its new leadership for a familiarisation meeting in accordance with DSS’s practice of interacting with officials of non-governmental organisations operating in the Federal Capital Territory in order to build a relationship with their new leadership. This was stated in the statement of claim that the litigants filed through their team of attorneys, led by Mr. Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN.

The claimants told the court that on September 9, while John and Ogunleye were carrying out the directive, they made a friendly visit to SERAP’s office at 18 Bamako Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja. There, they met with a woman named Ruth, who claimed that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the nation and suggested that the DSS write a formal letter of invitation.

The claimants, who insisted that the conversations were videotaped, stated that Ruth offered to notify her organisation’s management about the visit prior to the operatives leaving SERAP’s office and that she also offered her phone number, 08160537202.

They found it surprising that soon after their visit, SERAP claimed that DSS officers were currently occupying its office illegally in a post on its Twitter handle, @SERAPNigeria.

“On the same day, the defendants also published a statement on SERAP’s website, which was widely reported by several media outfits,” the claimants continued. In that statement, they falsely claimed that certain DSS officers, who were described as “a tall, large, dark-skinned woman” and “a slim, dark-skinned man,” broke into their Abuja office and questioned the first defendant’s staff.

“In their statement, the defendants also urged the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to immediately direct the DSS to end its intimidation, harassment and attack against the first defendant and the threat of arrest against its directors.

“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, the DSS has been ridiculed and criticised by international agencies such as the Amnesty International and prominent members of the Nigerian society, such as Femi Falana (SAN).

“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, members of the public and the international community formed the opinion that the Federal Government is using the DSS to harass the defendants.”

The claimants informed the court that the defendants’ false alarm damaged their reputation by painting them as a lawless group whose agents are inept, dishonest, and disobey orders.

The claimants further claimed that because of the defendants’ remarks, the officials suffered consequences, including suspension, investigation, and disciplinary panel appearances.

As a result, the claimants asked the court for the following: “An order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via the website of the first defendant (SERAP), the X handle on Twitter, 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 entering the first defendant’s office and questioning first defendant staff members.”

“An order compelling the defendants to reimburse the claimants for the defamatory remarks they caused to be published in the amount of N5 billion.”

“Interest on the amount of N5 billion at a rate of ten percent annually from the date of judgement until the judgement amount is realised or paid off.”

The claimants are also entitled to “an order directing the defendants to pay the sum of N50 million as costs of this action.”

Justice Yusuf Halilu has been assigned the case for a hearing in the interim.