The Department of State Services (DSS) in a bid to seek redress has filed a lawsuit against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) over allegations of an office invasion before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The ongoing lawsuit filed in the names of two DSS officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, the Service stated among others, that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted on its reputation and that of the two officials involved.
The suit, marked: CV/4547/2024 was filed on October 17, by DSS’ legal team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) before the High Court of the FCT, has SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare as defendants.
Blueprint reports that things took a dramatic turn at the resumed hearing when the rights group allegedly insisted that it must be referred to as ‘Registered Incorporated Trustees of SERAP’ as against the name, SERAP it has always used.
The group 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 (NNPCL) and to reverse the increase in the pump price of petrol.
The DSS subsequently issued a statement claiming that the visit to SERAP’s office was “a routine investigation”.
Our correspondent reports that, in the statement of defence and statement on oath filed on behalf of SERAP, Counsels to the rights group, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) said, “One DSS official who came to SERAP’s Abuja office disguised as ‘Sarah David’ to conceal their real identities, in furtherance of the agency’s bad faith and sinister motives.”
The senior lawyers also told the court that “the DSS has no operational habit or practice of engaging with officials of NGOs, whether to establish a relationship with new leadership or for any social purpose whatsoever, and whether in the FCT or elsewhere.”
However, the defence council’s insistence that the rights group must be referred to as ‘Registered Incorporated Trustees of SERAP has been described as a ply to apply technicality to keep dragging the case in court.
Speaking to our correspondent on the development, a security source said, “SERAP seems to be uncomfortable complying with the rule of substantial justice, which it has been calling others to abide by, rather it has resorted to technicalities.
“The adage that it is easier to criticise than doing the right thing is being validated at FCT High Court, Maitama. One of the leading civil society organisations that is popularly called SERAP seems to be uncomfortable complying with the rule of substantial justice, which it has been calling others to abide by. Instead, it has now resorted to technicalities.
“At the resumed hearing of the case instituted against it by DSS aggrieved staff, SERAP denied being SERAP. Meanwhile, in the offensive posts SERAP put out, which injured the reputation of the complainants, it said ‘DSS Raids SERAP Office’ and ‘DSS invades SERAP Office’ but now it is insisting that it must be referred to as ‘Registered Incorporated Trustees of SERAP’ denying its own name which it uses.
“Basically, it is assessed that it is doing so to evade justice. It is ironic that SERAP, an advocate for accountability, does not want to account for its actions,” the source who spoke on condition of anonymity stated.
Speaking further, the source disclosed that, “…in accordance with the rules, parties were directed to file all preliminary arguments for consideration on February 10, 2025. As it doesn’t want the matter to proceed to trial.
“Discerning Nigerians are observing how SERAP would riggle itself out of the accountability test the complainants want to subject it to.”
‘Office invasion’: DSS drags SERAP to court as group denies name
