Court to Rule on N5.5B Defamation Suit Against SERAP

On November 24, 2025, a high court in Abuja is set to deliver a judgment regarding a N5.5 billion defamation suit filed by two officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The suit, initiated on September 9, 2024, alleges that DSS operatives unlawfully invaded SERAP's office in Abuja, leading to claims of harassment and intimidation of staff.

SERAP's social media posts accused the DSS of this unlawful occupation, prompting the officers to assert that no invasion occurred and that SERAP's claims severely damaged their reputations. SERAP has consistently maintained that the DSS's actions constituted an illegal invasion and assault on its staff.

The court proceedings included testimonies from SERAP's deputy director, Kolawol Oluwadar, and the case has drawn significant attention as it marks a notable instance of security agents pursuing defamation claims in a private capacity.