The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has maintained its position that operatives of the Department of State Services unlawfully entered its Abuja office on September 9, 2024.
The organisation dismissed reports suggesting that its deputy director “admits to no invasion,” insisting the claims are completely false.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, SERAP reaffirmed, “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.”
The rights group had earlier alleged that DSS personnel stormed its office, demanding to see its directors.
The Service, however, countered that its operatives were carrying out a routine investigation and accused SERAP of falsely claiming an invasion.
It consequently filed a N5 billion defamation suit against the organisation through two of its officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, who argued that SERAP’s claims had damaged their reputations.
The case has since proceeded in court.
Reacting to reports on the November 24, 2025 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 organisation added that the accurate account of the court session had been reported by reputable newspapers, stating, “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 further noted that it was fully represented during the proceedings, saying: “SERAP has been well represented in court in the Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation 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.”
