The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, or SERAP, has been sued by two DSS agents in a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court for allegedly leveling untrue accusations against them.
In addition to requesting a public apology, the security agents are requesting N5 billion in damages for claimed wrongful publishing by SERAP.
The operatives claimed in the suit, filed on October 17 by their legal team under the leadership of Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, and designated CV/4547/2024, that SERAP had made fun of them and the DSS in a post on its X (Twitter) handle by accusing them of breaking into and questioning some employees at their Abuja office.
First and second plaintiffs, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogunleye, respectively, say that on September 9, 2024, the DSS instructed them to come to SERAP’s office in order to welcome the organization’s new leadership to a familiarization meeting.
As she and Ogunleye drove to SERAP’s office in the Wuse area of the Federal Capital Territory and “were not followed by any other car or escorted by any other person,” according to John’s 43-paragraph statement of claim, SERAP posted on X shortly after they left the office premises, stating that “officers from Nigeria’s DSS are currently unlawfully occupying SERAP’s office in Abuja, asking to see our directors.” The SSS must be ordered by President Tinubu right away to stop harassing, intimidating, and attacking Nigerians’ rights.
The plaintiffs claimed that the SERAP tweet and statement went viral on social media and was extensively shared and aired in the nation’s major media sources, drawing widespread public censure, including from senior attorney Mr. Femi Falana.
They further stated that the two claimants who had attended SERAP’s office on September 9 at the DSS’s request were also condemned as a result of the DSS’s condemnation.
According to the deponent, “the public has made multiple attempts to identify the claimants as the tall, large, dark-skinned woman and the slim, dark-skinned man.”
Additionally, they asserted that SERAP’s remarks damaged their reputation since DSS employees and management believe the claimants disregarded directives and conducted an illegal 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 claimants 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 prayed the court for an order directing the defendants to apologize to them through SERAP’s website, X handle, two national newspapers, and two national news television stations for falsely accusing them of illegally entering the office and questioning the staff, arguing that the statements made by SERAP are libelous because they are untrue and harmful.
Additionally, they requested that the court issue an order compelling SERAP to compensate them N5 billion for the allegedly defamatory remarks that were made about them in the media.
In addition, the DSS agents are requesting an additional N50 million to cover the action’s expenses.
