ABUJA — An FCT High Court sitting in Maitama has adjourned till February 19, 2026 for the adoption of final written addresses in a ₦5 billion defamation suit filed by two operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP.
Justice Yusuf Halilu fixed the date after SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, who is the 2nd defendant in the suit, closed his defence and was discharged from the witness box.
Oluwadare, testifying for SERAP, adopted his witness statement on oath and gave an overview of the organisation’s mandate and activities, as well as its account of the alleged invasion of its Abuja office by DSS operatives.
He told the court that SERAP is a duly registered non-governmental organisation focused on advancing transparency, accountability and social justice in Nigeria. Contrary to claims that the body exists merely to criticise government, he said SERAP’s core mandate is to “promote and protect human rights, including socio-economic rights, in the overall public interest.”
Oluwadare said harassment and intimidation of civil society actors pose “a grave threat” to SERAP’s work and undermine its ability to hold public institutions accountable. He confirmed that the organisation is funded through both local and international donor support.
Under cross-examination, he maintained that DSS officials had indeed come to SERAP’s Abuja office, prompting the organisation to issue public statements on its X (Twitter) handle. He said several staff members — including a front-desk officer, a security guard and a lawyer — reported the presence of men believed to be DSS operatives and unmarked vehicles around the premises.
Asked whether any staff were assaulted or doors broken during the incident, Oluwadare admitted there was no physical attack. However, he insisted that the manner of entry, the conduct of the operatives and the use of unmarked vehicles were enough to raise serious concern. He also told the court that SERAP has CCTV footage of the event.
Following his testimony, counsel to the claimants, Oluwagmileke Kehinde, informed the court that both sides had closed their cases and applied for a date to adopt final addresses, which Justice Halilu granted.
The claimants, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, both DSS operatives, are suing SERAP for allegedly making false and defamatory statements that they “invaded” the organisation’s Abuja office — claims they say damaged their personal reputations and that of the DSS as an institution.
