A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has fixed March 21 to begin hearing on a case of defamation filed by two officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
The officers had last October filed a defamation suit against SERAP after the economic and social rights group failed to apologise for accusing them of unlawfully invading its Abuja office on September 9.
SERAP had, on the said date, raised alarm over an alleged invasion of its head office in Abuja, describing it as an “unlawful occupation.”
“Officers from Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) 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,” SERAP posted on X.
The agency quickly responded to SERAP’s allegations, stating that two of its officers paid a routine visit to the SERAP office, and such a visit did not warrant an alarm.
“This narrative is inaccurate and misleading in its intent. For the records, a team of two unarmed service operatives were lawfully detailed on a routine investigation to the SERAP office in Abuja, which has sadly been skewed and misinterpreted as unlawful harassment and intimidation of SERAP officials,” the agency said in a statement.
“The Service further wishes to state that such official enquiries and liaison are traditional and do not in any way amount to illegality or raid.
The DSS, therefore, urges the public to disregard these false narratives as it restates its commitment to utmost professionalism in the discharge of its core mandate,” they stated.
The DSS also stated that it would sue SERAP and some media houses for running unverified stories that its operatives “raided” the Abuja office of SERAP.
Among the reliefs sought by the DSS officers are N5bn in damages and an apology published on SERAP’s website, social media, and in national newspapers and TV stations.
In addition, the DSS officers demanded N50m for legal costs and 10 per cent annual interest on the N5bn until payment is made in full.
When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, counsel to the plaintiff, A T. Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said they were ready to proceed with their case.
However, SERAP’s lawyer, Divine Oguru, challenged the court’s jurisdiction on the matter and said that they were not properly served with the court processes.
Oguru also said the DSS officials lacked legal standing to sue since they (SERAP) were also affiliated with the agency.
However, the presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, said all the processes for the hearing were intact and that the court was ready to begin hearing into the matter.
He urged all parties to file all necessary documents in the case so the hearing can commence.
Justice Halilu subsequently adjourned the hearing to next week after consultations by the counsels in the matter.
