DSS Operatives Drags SERAP To Court Over Alleged Defamation

Two agents from the Department of State Service (DSS) have initiated legal proceedings against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alleging that SERAP has made unfounded accusations against them.

In addition to seeking a public apology, the security personnel are requesting N5 billion in damages for the harm they claim to have suffered due to SERAP’s purportedly false statements.

The lawsuit, designated as CV/4547/2024 and submitted on October 17 by their legal representatives led by Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, asserts that SERAP, through a post on its X (Twitter) account, has brought disrepute to both the agents and the DSS by alleging that they unlawfully invaded and interrogated staff members at SERAP’s Abuja office.

According to the claimants, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogunleye, who are the 1st and 2nd claimants respectively, the DSS had instructed them on September 9, 2024, to visit SERAP’s office to invite the new leadership for a familiarization meeting.

In a detailed 43-paragraph statement of claim, John stated that while she and Ogunleye traveled to SERAP’s office in the Wuse area of the FCT without any escort or following vehicle, SERAP subsequently posted on X, alleging that “officers from Nigeria’s DSS 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 claimants contended that SERAP’s tweet and subsequent statements gained significant traction on social media and were extensively disseminated by major media outlets across the country, resulting in widespread public condemnation, including from prominent lawyer Mr. Femi Falana.

They claimed further that the condemnation of the DSS has attracted condemnation on the two claimants who had visited SERAP’s office on that September 9, on the directive of the DSS.

Don’t miss out on any real-time information. Join our WhatsApp group to stay updated.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

“Several attempts have been made by members of the public to identify the claimants as the tall, large, dark-skinned woman and the slim, dark-skinned man,” the deponent said.

They further claimed that SERAP’s statements caused harm to their 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.

“The defendants’ 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 claimant’s actions.

“As a result of the defendants’ false statements, the claimants are the subject of an ongoing investigation by the DSS. The claimants were made to make statements, were subject to interrogations and faced a disciplinary panel.

“The claimants have been suspended from the DSS pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

“The ongoing investigation has placed a huge emotional and psychological toll on the claimants.

“The claimants have been ostracized by their colleagues at the DSS because staff of the DSS believe that the claimants carried out an unauthorised operation that has brought disrepute to the DSS,” the deponent added.

The DSS agents contended that the statements issued by SERAP are defamatory, asserting that they are both false and damaging. Consequently, they requested the court to mandate the defendants to issue an apology through SERAP’s website, its X handle, two national newspapers, and two national television news stations, for the unfounded allegations of unlawfully entering their office and interrogating the personnel.

Additionally, they sought a court order requiring SERAP to compensate them with N5 billion for the purportedly libelous statements made against them.

Furthermore, the DSS operatives are claiming an additional N50 million to cover the costs associated with the legal action.