Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, on Monday adjourned the hearing in the ₦5 billion defamation suit filed by the Department of State Services against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
The case, marked FCT/HC/CV/4547/24, was instituted by two DSS officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele.
At the resumed sitting, the 2nd defendant and Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, opened his defence after the court granted a housekeeping application allowing the amendment of their processes.
Oluwadare, who testified as PW2, adopted his witness statement on oath and gave clarifications regarding the organisation’s mandate and the events surrounding the alleged invasion of SERAP’s Abuja office.
Reaffirming SERAP’s objectives, he stated that: “SERAP is a registered non-governmental organisation dedicated to advancing transparency, accountability, and social justice in Nigeria.”
He dismissed narratives describing SERAP as anti-government, stressing that: “Its mandate is to promote and protect human rights, including socio-economic rights, in the public interest.”
Oluwadare also told the court that harassment and intimidation of civic actors “pose grave threats” to SERAP’s work, especially regarding its efforts to hold public institutions accountable.
He further confirmed that the organisation operates with support from both local and international donors.
Under cross-examination, the SERAP deputy director maintained his earlier claims that DSS operatives were present at the organisation’s premises on the day of the incident, insisting that the development prompted the organisation’s public alerts.
He said multiple staff members, including a front-desk officer, a security guard, and another lawyer, reported seeing the operatives.
When asked whether any of the staff were assaulted or whether doors were broken, NAIJAONPOINT admitted there was no physical attack but insisted that: “The manner of entry and the presence of unmarked vehicles created concern and informed SERAP’s public statements.”
He also told the court that SERAP had CCTV footage of the incident and maintained that the tweets issued by the organisation “reflected the seriousness” of what its staff observed that day.
At the close of cross-examination, counsel for the claimant, Oluwagmileke Kehinde, informed the court that both sides had concluded their cases and requested a date for the adoption of final written addresses.
Justice Halilu subsequently adjourned the matter to February 19 for filing and adoption of the final written addresses.
Cited as defendants in the suit are SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
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