Judgment imminent in N5.5bn lawsuit filed by SERAP against DSS

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja will on Tuesday deliver judgment in a N5.5bn defamation suit filed by two operatives of the Department of State Services against the Incorporated Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.

The DSS operatives, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, instituted the suit against SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, over allegations that security operatives unlawfully invaded the organisation’s Abuja office in September 2024.

SERAP had, in a series of posts published on its X handle on September 9, 2024, alleged that officers of the State Security Service unlawfully occupied its office and demanded to see its directors.

The organisation wrote, “Officers from Nigeria’s State Security Service are presently unlawfully occupying SERAP’s office in Abuja, asking to see our directors.

“President Tinubu must immediately direct the SSS to end the harassment, intimidation, and attack on the rights of Nigerians.”

The DSS, however, denied the allegation, insisting that the visit by the two operatives was routine and aimed at familiarising with the organisation’s new leadership.

The secret police also denied allegations that the operatives harassed or assaulted members of staff during the visit.

Following the disagreement, the two operatives filed the N5.5bn suit, claiming that SERAP’s publication falsely portrayed them as lawless officers and damaged their reputation.

The claimants further alleged that the publication subjected them to humiliation and disciplinary actions within the service.

Despite the suit, SERAP maintained its position that DSS operatives unlawfully invaded its office.

In a statement issued on November 26, 2025, and signed by Oluwadare, the organisation said it stood by its defence and court filings.

“We stand by our statements of defence and statements on oath filed in court by our lawyers, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, and the correct reporting of what actually happened in court on Monday, November 24, 2025, that the DSS unlawfully invaded our Abuja office,” the statement read.

During proceedings, witnesses reportedly told the court that no physical assault occurred during the visit by the DSS operatives.

Oluwadare also informed the court that the report of the alleged invasion was based on information supplied by SERAP’s front-desk officer, Vivian Amadi.

At the adoption of final written addresses on February 19, 2026, counsel for the claimants, Oluwagbemileke Samuel Kehinde, urged the court to grant all the reliefs sought by his clients.

Kehinde argued that the claimants had established that they were the persons referred to in the alleged defamatory publication.

He also argued that it was not necessary for every member of the public to know the claimants before a defamation claim could succeed, provided persons within their circle could identify them from the publication.

Justice Halilu Yusuf subsequently reserved judgment in the suit marked CV/4547/2024.