KEY POINTS

• The Nigerian DSS is suing SERAP, claiming defamation after it invaded the office in Abuja.
• The two senior lawyers who represent SERAP in court are Oyetibo and Adegboruwa.
• DSS discrepancy in statements about the purpose of the office visit.

Today, a Federal Capital Territory court will hear the case between the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

Office invasion: SERAP, DSS face off in court

The case relates to an alleged invasion of SERAP’s Abuja office last week by DSS officials after the organization had called for the investigation of corruption accusations against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and rise in the price of petrol.

According to the DSS, the visit was a ‘routine investigation’ but two of its officials later sued SERAP for ‘defamation’ and demanded over N5 billion in damages.

Making their case in Court 13 before Justice Yusuf Halilu is the legal team of SERAP led by senior lawyers Tayo Oyetibo, SAN and Ebunolu Adegboruwa, SAN.3.

Contentions and contradictions

SERAP’s legal counsel also rejected the DSS’s demands after receiving a letter, dated September 17, 2024, from Dr. Alex Izinyon, the DSS ‘s solicitor, claiming that SERAP’s publication was defamatory to the two DSS official involved.

But SERAP insists it published about the DSS as an institution, not as to the people personally.

The DSS’s first public statement on the visit made on September 10 described the office visit as being part of a “routine investigation.”

And yet, the claimants in the defamation lawsuit added it was for a ‘familiarization meeting’ with the new leadership of SERAP, adding to the confusion.

The court has heard both sides, and now it must give its verdict.

A legal battle with far reaching implications

Not just because of legal implications, but because the wider issues the case raises about the relationship between government agencies and civil society organisations in Nigeria are being watched closely as well.

Today’s hearing could start a legal battle or could resolve, once and for all, what kind of right for the NGOs in our country.