Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, on Monday adjourned for the adoption of the final written address in a N5 billion defamation suit filed by the Department of State Services against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.
The suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/4547/24, was filed by Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, officials of the DSS.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, the 2nd defendant, Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, opened its defence after the court granted a housekeeping application for amendment of process filed.
Oluwadare, who testified as PW2, adopted his statement on oath and provided further clarifications on the organisation’s work and the events surrounding the alleged invasion of SERAP’s Abuja office.
Oluwadare reaffirmed that “SERAP is a registered non-governmental organisation dedicated to advancing transparency, accountability, and social justice in Nigeria.”
He dismissed “suggestions that SERAP exists to criticise the government,” stressing that its “mandate is to promote and protect human rights, including socio-economic rights, in the public interest.”
He also told the court that harassment and intimidation of civic actors pose grave threats to SERAP’s work, particularly its efforts to hold public institutions accountable.
Oluwadare confirmed that SERAP operates with both local and international donor support.
Under cross-examination, the witness stood by his earlier account that operatives of the DSS had been present at the organisation’s premises, noting that the incident prompted SERAP’s public alerts.
He told the court that multiple staff members, including a front-desk officer, a security guard, and another lawyer, reported the presence of the officials.
When confronted with questions about whether any staff member was assaulted or whether doors were broken, the witness confirmed there was no physical attack but maintained that the manner of entry and the presence of unmarked vehicles created concern and informed SERAP’s public statements.
Oluwadare further stated that the organisation has CCTV footage of the incident and insisted that the tweets issued by SERAP reflected the seriousness of what staff observed that day.
Following the completion of cross-examination, counsel to the claimant, Oluwagmileke Kehinde, informed the court that both parties had reached the close of trial and requested a date for the adoption of final written addresses.
The court subsequently adjourned to February 19 for filing and adoption of the final written address.
Cited as defendants in the suit marked CV/4547/2024 are SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
