A Federal Capital Territory court will, tomorrow, hear a lawsuit between the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The lawsuit stems from SERAP’s claim that the DSS invaded its office in Abuja.
According to a statement shared by SERAP on its X (formerly Twitter) account, the organization will be represented in court by Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) Tayo Oyetibo and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa. This case marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the security agency and the human rights group.
The controversy began in September when SERAP accused the DSS of invading its Abuja office. The accusation followed SERAP’s public letter urging President Bola Tinubu to investigate alleged corruption within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and to reverse a recent hike in petrol prices.
Responding to the allegations, the DSS issued a statement describing its visit to SERAP’s office as part of a “routine investigation.” However, the agency has now filed a lawsuit, claiming that SERAP’s allegations have damaged its reputation and that of two of its officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele.
The lawsuit, marked CV/4547/2024, was submitted on October 17 by the DSS legal team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN. SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, have been named as defendants in the case.
