The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a N5.5 billion defamation lawsuit against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), accusing it of making false claims about the agency. The legal action was initiated before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where the DSS alleged that SERAP falsely reported that its Abuja office had been invaded by DSS operatives.
In the lawsuit, the DSS claimed that the false allegations had adversely affected its corporate reputation and that of two of its officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, who are also listed as claimants in the case. The suit, marked CV/4547/2024, names SERAP and its Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare as defendants.
According to the DSS, the two officials visited SERAP’s office on September 9 as part of the agency’s practice of engaging with officials from non-governmental organizations in the FCT to establish relationships with their new leadership. During the visit, they met a staff member named Ruth, who informed them that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the country and suggested that a formal invitation letter be sent by the DSS.
The claimants, who stated that their interactions were recorded, expressed surprise when SERAP later posted on its X (Twitter) account, alleging that DSS officers were unlawfully occupying their office. They also noted that SERAP published a statement on its website, widely reported by various media outlets, claiming that officers described as “a tall, large, dark-skinned woman” and “a slim, dark-skinned man” had invaded their office and interrogated the staff