From ANTHONY OCHELA
Department of State Services, DSS, has instituted a N5.5 billion defamation suit against Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, for allegedly making false claim that its officials invaded its (SERAP) Abuja office.
In the suit, filed in the names of two of its officials – Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele – DSS stated among others, that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted its reputation and of the two officials involved.
The suit, filed on October 17
by its team of lawyers, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), before the HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, marked: CV/4547/2024, 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 non-governmental 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.
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.
The claimant added that “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 of the DSS, “described as ‘a tall, large, dark-skinned woman’ and ‘a slim, dark skinned man,’ invaded their Abuja office and interrogated its staff.
“In their statement, the defendants also urged President Bola 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, DSS has been ridiculed and criticised by international agencies such as Amnesty International and prominent members of the 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.”
The claimants are therefore praying the court for the following reliefs:
“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 its staff.
“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants N5 billion as damages for the libellous 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 N50 million as cost of this action.”
