A high court of the federal capital territory (FCT) has adjourned a suit instituted against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) by two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) until November 12.
Yusuf Halilu, the presiding judge, adjourned the hearing in the suit following the absence of Ebun Adegboruwa, SERAP’s lawyer, in court on Thursday.
Adegboruwa had notified the court through a letter that he had a matter at the court of appeal in Lagos which would make him unable to attend the proceedings and pleaded for an adjournment till November 12.
Akinlolu Kehinde, counsel to the claimant, admitted receiving the letter and did not oppose the request for an adjournment.
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The DSS had demanded N5.5 billion in damages from SERAP for an alleged false claim that the secret police said tarnished its image.
In September 2024, SERAP said the DSS agents were “unlawfully occupying” its office in Abuja, the nation’s capital, claiming that they had demanded to see its directors.
The alleged invasion happened barely 24 hours after SERAP urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reverse the hike in the pump price of petrol.
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The group also asked Tinubu to direct the DSS to end the harassment, intimidation, and attack on the rights of Nigerians.
The DSS, in a statement, did not deny visiting the SERAP office but clarified that the call was a routine investigation.
The secret police described SERAP’s allegations as “malicious” and restated its commitment to professionalism in discharging its duties.
In the suit filed on October 17, the DSS said the claims made by SERAP negatively impacted its reputation and that of Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, the two police officials involved.
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SERAP and Kolawole Oluwadare, its deputy director, were listed as first and second defendants in the suit marked CV/4547/2024.
Specifically, the two claimants alleged that SERAP defamed them with allegations that they unlawfully invaded its office, thereby putting their reputation as law-abiding security operatives in jeopardy.
They prayed the court to order SERAP to pay them N5.5 billion as compensation for damages they suffered.
The two claimants also applied to the judge to issue an order of perpetual injunction against SERAP restraining it from further defaming them.
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