The Department of State Services (DSS) has instituted a N5.5 billion defamation suit against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for allegedly making a false claim that officials of the agency invaded its (SERAP’s) Abuja office.
 
In the suit, filed in the names of two of its officials – Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele – the DSS stated among others that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted on its reputation and that of the two officials involved.
 
The suit, filed on October 17 by its team of lawyers led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), marked CV/4547/2024, has SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, listed as defendants.
 
The claimants stated in their statement of claim that in line with their practice of engaging with officials of non-governmental organisations operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their new leadership, they directed the two officials – John and Ogunleye – to visit SERAP’s office and invite its new leadership for a familiarisation meeting.
 
They added that in carrying out the directive, John and Ogunleye paid a friendly visit to SERAP’s office at 18 Bamako Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja, on September 9 and met with one Ruth, who upon being informed about the purpose of the visit, claimed that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the country and advised that a formal letter of invitation be written by the DSS.
 
The claimants, who claimed that their interactions with Ruth were recorded, said before they immediately exited SERAP’s office, Ruth promised to inform her organisation’s management about the visit and volunteered a phone number – 08160537202.
 
The claimants said it was surprising that shortly after their visit, SERAP posted on its X (Twitter) handle, @SERAPNigeria, claiming that officers of the DSS were unlawfully occupying its office.
 
The claimants added that “on the same day, the defendants also published a statement on SERAP’s  website, which was widely reported by several media outfits, falsely alleging that some officers from the DSS, “described as ‘a fall, large, dark-skinned woman’ and ‘a slim, dark skinned man,’ invaded their Abuja office and interrogated the staff of the first defendant. 
 
“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 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 said.
 
It added that the defendants’ statements caused harm to the claimants’ reputation because the staff and management of the DSS have formed the opinion that the claimants did not follow orders and carried out an unsanctioned operation and are therefore incompetent and unprofessional . 
 
The claimants also stated that the defendants’ statements caused harm to the claimants’ reputation because members of staff of the DSS have formed the opinion that the ridicule and criticisms received by the DSS were a result of the claimants’ actions. 
 
The DSS added that as a result of the defendants’ false statements, the claimants are the subject of an ongoing investigation by the DSS. “They have been made to make statements, subjected to interrogations, faced a disciplinary panel and now suspended from the DSS pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.”  The claimants are therefore praying the court for the following reliefs:
 
“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 N5 billion as damages for the libelous statements published about the claimants. 
 
“Interest on the sum of N5 billion at the rate of 10 per cent 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 N50 million as costs of this action.” The case, now assigned to Justice Yusuf Halilu of Court 13 of the High Court of the FCT, is yet to be scheduled for hearing.