The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) Thursday told a Federal Capital Territory High Court that the officials of Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) who invaded its Abuja office used fake names and came with two unmarked vehicles.”
SERAP had 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 then issued a statement claiming that the visit to SERAP’s office was “a routine investigation but two of its officials subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against SERAP, claiming over N5 billion in damages.
Tayo Oyetibo, SAN and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN in the statement of defence and statement on oath filed on behalf of SERAP said in court that, “one of the two DSS officials 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 Federal Capital Territory or elsewhere.”
The suit which came up today (Thursday) before Justice Yusuf Halilu, Court 13 has been adjourned to 29th of November 2024 for further hearing – SERAP.
