A Federal Capital Territory court will today hear a defamation lawsuit filed by two Department of State Services officials against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.
The case, which has drawn significant public attention, will be presided over by Justice Yusuf Halilu of Court 13. Representing SERAP in the proceedings are Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Tayo Oyetibo and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.
The lawsuit stems from events in September 2024 when SERAP alleged that DSS operatives invaded its Abuja office. This followed a public letter by the organisation urging President Bola Tinubu to investigate allegations of corruption within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and reverse the recent petrol price increase. The DSS, in response, described the visit to SERAP’s office as a “routine investigation.”
However, the situation escalated when two DSS officials initiated a lawsuit against SERAP, claiming that the organisation’s publication defamed them and seeking over N5 billion in damages. SERAP has firmly rejected these allegations, asserting that its statements were directed at the DSS as an institution, not the two individuals.
In a letter dated 17th September 2024, the DSS’s solicitor, Dr. Alex Izinyon, argued that SERAP’s publication implicated the DSS. SERAP’s legal counsel, Tayo Oyetibo LP, responded on 23rd September 2024, refuting these claims and rejecting the DSS’s demands. The back-and-forth culminated in the current lawsuit, which SERAP has labelled as based on “false facts.”
Adding to the complexity are contradictions in the DSS’s public statements about the visit. In a release dated 10th September 2024, the DSS stated that its visit to SERAP’s Abuja office on 9th September 2024 was part of “a routine investigation.” However, in court filings, the DSS claimed the visit was to “engage with officials of non-governmental organisations operating in the FCT” and to “establish a relationship with their new leadership.”
Commenting on the case, SERAP maintains that the contradictory statements highlight the lack of merit in the DSS officials’ claims. The organisation remains steadfast in its call for accountability and transparency in governance.
