A Federal Capital Territory High Court will today hear the lawsuit brought by the Department of State Services against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.
The lawsuit will be before Justice Yusuf Halilu of Court 13. Lawyers to represent SERAP in court are Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).
SERAP had in September alleged that the DSS invaded its Abuja office, following the organisation’s letter calling on President Bola Tinubu to probe allegations of corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and to reverse the increase in the pump price of petrol.
The DSS then issued a statement claiming that the visit to SERAP’s office was “a routine investigation” but two of its officials subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against the group, claiming over N5 billion in damages.
On September 17, 2024, the DSS had, through their solicitor, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), written to SERAP in respect of the matter in which they stated that the group’s publication complained of in this suit was made of and concerning the DSS, and not the two DSS officials.
In a letter dated September 23, 2024, SERAP’s solicitors, Messrs Tayo Oyetibo LP, rejected the demands of the DSS as contained in their solicitor’s letter.
It was after the exchange of correspondence between the DSS and SERAP that the two DSS officials instituted the suit based upon false facts that the publication was made of and concerning them.
SERAP stated that the DSS had made contradictory statements as to the purpose of their unannounced visit and presence in its Abuja office.
