‘Office invasion’: DSS files N5.5bn defamation suit against SERAP

The Department of State Services has demanded N5.5 billion in damages from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a civil society organisation (CSO), for an alleged false claim that the secret police said tarnished its image.

Last month, SERAP said the DSS agents were “unlawfully occupying” its office in Abuja, the nation’s capital, adding that they had demanded to see its directors.

The alleged invasion happened barely 24 hours after SERAP urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to reverse the hike in the pump price of petrol.

The group also asked Tinubu to direct the DSS to end the harassment, intimidation, and attack on the rights of Nigerians.

The DSS, in a statement, did not deny visiting the SERAP office but clarified that the call was a routine investigation.

The secret police described SERAP’s allegations as “malicious” and restated its commitment to professionalism in discharging its duties.

In a suit filed on October 17, the DSS said the claims made by SERAP negatively impacted its reputation and that of Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, the two police officials involved.

SERAP and Kolawole Oluwadare, its deputy director, were listed as first and second defendants in the suit marked CV/4547/2024.

According to the suit, the DSS said its visit to SERAP’s office aligned with its practice of engaging with officials of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the federal capital territory (FCT) to establish a relationship with their new leadership.

The secret police said its officials were greeted by a SERAP staff member who claimed that no management official was in the country and advised that a formal letter of invitation be written.

The DSS, which claimed that its interactions with the SERAP employee were recorded, said before its operatives exited SERAP’s office, the NGO staff promised to inform the organisation’s management about the visit and volunteered a phone number.

The agency said it was surprising to see the allegations after the encounter.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N5 billion as damages for the libelous statements published about the claimants,” the DSS prayed the court.

“Interest on the sum of N5 billion at the rate of 10 percent 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 DSS also sought an order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via SERAP’s website and X handle.

The apology, the secret police said, must be published in two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television).

The case has not been scheduled for a hearing.