The Department of State Services (DSS) has slammed a N5.5 billion defamation suit against a group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for allegedly making false claims that officials of the agency invaded the Abuja office of the group.
In the suit, filed in the names of two of its officials – Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele – the DSS stated among others, that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted on its reputation and that of the two officials involved.
The suit, marked: CV/4547/2024 and filed on October 17, 2024, by DSS’ legal team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare as defendants.
The claimants stated, in their statement of claim, that, in line with its practice of engaging with officials of nongovernmental organisations operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their new leadership, it directed the two officials – John and Ogunleye – to visit SERAP’s office and invite its new leadership for a familiarisation meeting.
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They added that, in carrying out the directive, John and Ogunleye paid a friendly visit to SERAP’s office at 18 Bamako Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja on September 9 and met with one Ruth, who upon being informed about the purpose of the visit, claimed that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the country and advised that a formal letter of invitation be written by the DSS.
The claimants, who claimed that their interactions with Ruth were recorded, said before they immediately exited SERAP’s office, Ruth promised to inform her organisation’s management about the visit and volunteered a phone number.
They said it was surprising that shortly after their visit, SERAP posted on its X (Twitter) handle: @SERAPNigeria, claiming that officers of the DSS are presently unlawfully occupying its office.
According to the claimant, “On the same day, the defendants also published a statement on SERAP’s website, which was widely reported by several media outfits, falsely alleging that some officers from the DSS, described as a tall, large, dark-skinned woman and a slim, dark-skinned man, invaded their Abuja office and interrogated the staff of the first defendant.
“In their statement, the defendants also urged the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to immediately direct the DSS to end its intimidation, harassment, and attack against the first defendant and the threat of arrest against its directors.
“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, the DSS has been ridiculed and criticised by international agencies such as Amnesty International and prominent members of the Nigerian society, such as Femi Falana, SAN.
“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, members of the public and the international community formed the opinion that the Federal Government is using the DSS to harass the defendants.”
They added that the defendants’ statements caused harm to the claimants’ reputation because the staff and management of the DSS have formed the opinion that the claimants did not follow orders and carried out an unsanctioned operation and are therefore,
incompetent and unprofessional.
The claimants also stated that the defendant’s statements caused harm to the claimants’ reputation because staff of the DSS have formed the opinion that the ridicule and criticisms received by the DSS are a result of the claimants’ actions.
They added that, as a result of the defendant’s false statements, the claimants are the subject of an ongoing investigation by the DSS; they have been made to make statements, subjected to interrogations, faced a disciplinary panel, and are now suspended from the DSS pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The claimants are therefore praying to 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, two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television) for falsely accusing the claimants of unlawfully invading the first defendant’s office and interrogating the first defendant’s staff.
“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N5 billion as damages for the libelous statements published about the claimants.
“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 case now assigned to Justice Yusuf Halilu of Court 13 of the High Court of the FCT, is yet to be scheduled for hearing.
