Two operatives of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) have taken legal action against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The operatives claim that SERAP made false accusations against them, which has caused serious harm to their reputation.
The DSS officers, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogunleye, are demanding a sum of N5 billion in damages. They have also requested a public apology from SERAP for the statements that were posted on SERAP’s X (formerly Twitter) account, accusing the DSS operatives of misconduct.
This legal battle stems from an incident that occurred on September 9, 2024. On that day, John and Ogunleye were instructed by the DSS to visit SERAP’s office in Abuja. Their mission was to invite the organization’s new leadership to a familiarization meeting. However, shortly after they left the office, SERAP took to social media, accusing the DSS operatives of unlawfully occupying their premises and harassing staff members.
In the lawsuit, the DSS operatives vehemently denied the accusations. According to Sarah John, they visited SERAP’s office in Wuse, Abuja, without any ill intentions. They were not accompanied by any other DSS operatives, nor did they act in a threatening manner. She described the visit as peaceful and said they left shortly after making their invitation.
However, SERAP’s tweet told a different story. It read: “Officers from Nigeria’s DSS are presently unlawfully occupying SERAP’s office in Abuja, asking to see our directors. President Tinubu must immediately direct the SSS to end the harassment, intimidation, and attack on the rights of Nigerians.”
The tweet quickly went viral and sparked public outrage. Nigerians on social media condemned the DSS’s actions, and the matter was widely reported in the national press. Prominent figures, including senior lawyer Femi Falana, joined in criticizing the alleged behavior of the DSS.
The consequences of SERAP’s accusations have been severe for the two DSS operatives. John and Ogunleye claim that their colleagues at the DSS have turned against them, accusing them of conducting an unsanctioned operation that brought the agency into disrepute. As a result, they are currently under investigation by the DSS.
John described how the incident has impacted both their personal and professional lives. “The public is now associating us with the harassment accusations. We’ve been ostracized at work, and the DSS management believes that we did something wrong. This has put us under enormous emotional and psychological pressure.”
Their reputations have been tarnished, and their careers are in jeopardy. Both officers have been suspended from their duties, pending the outcome of the investigation.
“The ongoing investigation has been difficult. We were called in for interrogations, made to write statements, and face a disciplinary panel. This has taken a serious toll on us,” said Ogunleye.
In response to the damage done to their reputations, the operatives have filed a defamation lawsuit at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Their legal team, led by senior lawyer Akinlolu Kehinde, is asking for N5 billion in damages for the alleged false statements made by SERAP.
The lawsuit also demands that SERAP issue a public apology. According to the DSS operatives, the apology should be posted on SERAP’s website, X handle, two national newspapers, and two national television stations. They argue that this is necessary to correct the harm caused by SERAP’s false statements.
In addition to the N5 billion in damages, John and Ogunleye are also seeking N50 million to cover the cost of the legal action.
SERAP has yet to formally respond to the lawsuit. However, the organization is known for its vocal stance on human rights and accountability in Nigeria. Over the years, SERAP has been at the forefront of demanding transparency and justice from both government agencies and individuals in positions of power.
