DSS invaded our office with fake ID, SERAP tells court

. Court adjourns case till Nov.29
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has claimed that officials of the Department of State Services (DSS), who invaded their Abuja office, used fake names and visited in two unmarked vehicles.

SERAP had, in September, alleged that the DSS invaded its Abuja office; but the DSS released a statement claiming that the visit to SERAP’s office was “a routine investigation.” Two of its officials later filed a defamation lawsuit against SERAP, seeking over N5 billion in damages.

Defence counsel for SERAP, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, informed the Federal Capital Territory High Court that “one of the two DSS officials, who visited SERAP’s Abuja office disguised as ‘Sarah David’ to hide her true identities.

This move, according to the lawyers, revealed the agency’s bad faith and sinister motives.

The case, which was heard, yesterday, by Justice Yusuf Halilu of Court 13, has been adjourned till November 29, 2024, for further proceedings.
SERAP, in its statement of defence and statement on oath, denied the claims made by the DSS and its officials and asked the court to dismiss the claims, they were baseless and vexatious, with substantial costs awarded to them.

Also in the defence statement, SERAP noted: “One DSS operative signed the visitor’s book as ‘Sarah David,’ not ‘Sarah John’ as listed in the lawsuit. A copy of the visitor’s book, showing the use of a false name, will be presented during the trial.

“The DSS arrived demanding to meet with SERAP’s management, requesting documents and interrogating the front desk officer,” the statement continued.

The lawyers indicated that the agency’s public justification for the visit was inconsistent with their claims in court.