SERAP Asks Nigerian High Court To Dismiss DSS Defamation Suit,Demands Compensation
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on Thursday asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), describing it as frivolous and vexatious. SERAP also requested that the court should impose substantial costs on the DSS. In a statement posted on its X handle, SERAP noted that DSS officers had illegally invaded its Abuja office
SERAP also requested that the court should impose substantial costs on the DSS.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on Thursday asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), describing it as frivolous and vexatious.
SERAP also requested that the court should impose substantial costs on the DSS.
In a statement posted on its X handle, SERAP noted that DSS officers had illegally invaded its Abuja office using fake names and arrived in two unmarked vehicles.
The organisation further asserted that the suit lacked merit and was intended to harass and intimidate them.
“We’ve told an Abuja high court today to dismiss the bogus defamation suit by Nigeria’s security police DSS for being frivolous and vexatious, with substantial costs. The DSS officials who invaded our Abuja office used fake names and came with two unmarked vehicles,” the statement said.
https://x.com/SERAPNigeria/status/1854525178606146041
In October, SaharaReporters reported that the SERAP rejected the lawsuit filed against it by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The organisation had reacted to the suit via its X handle.
“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” the post on X read.
It would be recalled that the DSS had said SERAP made a false claim that its operatives invaded SERAP’s Abuja office.
The suit by the DSS was filed in the names of two of its officials; Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele.
They stated that the alleged false claim by SERAP had impacted on its reputation and that of the two officials involved in a negative way.
On October 17, the security outfit through its team of lawyers, led by Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, at the HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sued SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, as 1st and 2nd defendants.
The service stated that it only asked two officers of the organisation to visit the SERAP for a familiarisation meeting.
They noted that this was in line with its practice of engaging with officials of non-governmental organisations operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their new leadership.
The service therefore prayed the court for an order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via the first defendant’s (SERAP’s) website, X (twitter) handle.
The apology, the DSS said, must be published in two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television).
“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N5billion as damages for the libellous statements published about the claimants.”
The attack against SERAP was reported on September 9, 2024.
In September, SaharaReporters reported that personnel of Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in Abuja.
This was disclosed in a post shared by the civic group.
However, the group said the DSS officials kept asking for its directors, indicating that they came to arrest them.
SERAP, a leading human rights organisation, has been vocal in its criticism of the Nigerian government’s human rights record and has filed several lawsuits against the government on behalf of victims of human rights abuses.
