A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja has fixed May 5 to deliver judgment in a ₦5.5 billion defamation suit filed by two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Justice Halilu Yusuf scheduled the judgment after previously reserving it on February 19, following arguments from all parties involved.
The case was filed by DSS officials Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, who accused SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, of falsely alleging that they invaded SERAP’s Abuja office on September 9, 2024.
Counsel to the DSS argued that although the officials were not named directly in the publication, there was enough context to identify them, thereby establishing defamation.
However, SERAP’s legal team countered that the publication only referred to “DSS officials” without naming anyone, insisting that the claimants failed to prove they were specifically targeted. They urged the court to dismiss the case.
The claimants are seeking several reliefs, including:
A public apology across media platforms
₦5 billion in damages
10% annual interest on the judgment sum
₦50 million as legal costs
The suit stems from a dispute over a reported visit by DSS operatives to SERAP’s office, which the organization described as an unlawful invasion—an allegation the officers deny, insisting it was a routine official visit.
The court’s decision is expected to clarify key issues around defamation, identification of parties in publications, and the limits of public criticism involving security agencies.
