DSS unlawfully invaded our office, SERAP insists

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has insisted that officers of the Department of State Services, DSS, unlawfully invaded its Abuja office on September 9, 2024. SERAP noted that reports that its deputy director “admits to no invasion” is totally incorrect.

In a statement on Tuesday, SERAP said: “We stand by our statements on oath, statements of defence and the correct proceedings in court on Monday, November 24, 2025 to the effect that the DSS unlawfully invaded SERAP’s office on 9 September 2024.”

Recall that DSS officials invaded SERAP’s office on September 9, 2024, asking to see the rights group’s directors.

However, DSS said they were on routine investigation.

Also, the Service said SERAP falsely claimed its operatives had invaded its office, and slammed a N5 billion defamation suit against the rights group. The lawsuit was filed under the names of two DSS officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele.

They claimed that SERAP’s alleged false assertion had adversely affected the reputation of both the organisation and the two officials involved.

The matter has been in court. Read about yesterday’s court session HERE.

Regarding reports of the Monday, November 24 hearing, SERAP said: “Our attention has been drawn to certain inaccuracies in the recent reports by some media organisations about the court proceedings on Monday 24 November 2025 in the SLAPP lawsuit filed against SERAP by the Department of State Security, DSS, at the High Court of the FCT Abuja.

“The reports conveyed impressions that do not reflect what transpired in open court and may inadvertently misinform the public.

“The correct proceedings in court and the summary of the facts of what exactly happened in court have been accurately covered by several leading newspapers including Punch and Vanguard whose reporters were present in court.

“SERAP has been well represented in court in the Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) and baseless lawsuit against our organisation by Nigeria’s DSS including on Monday 24 November 2025 when 5 highly experienced lawyers from both the law firms  of Tayo Oyetibo(SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa(SAN) represented SERAP in court.

“The use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, SLAPPs, lawsuits by the Nigerian authorities against our organisation and other Nigerians peacefully expressing their human rights is antithetical to the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.

“These authoritarian practices will surely fail.”

Vanguard News

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