SERAP Rejects DSS ₦5.5 Billion Defamation Lawsuit

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has rejected a suit against its organization by the Department of State Security (DSS).

“We reject the baseless defamation lawsuit brought against us by the DSS, following the invasion of our Abuja office. We’re talking to our lawyers and will be filing our counter-claims. We’ll see in court to stop this intimidation and attack on the rights of Nigerians,” SERAP wrote on its X handle on Friday.

The DSS had earlier filed a ₦5.5 billion defamation lawsuit against SERAP over what it described as false allegations of DSS officials’ invasion of SERAP’s Abuja office.

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.