Court Fines SERAP ₦100 Million for Defaming DSS

A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Yusuf Halilu, imposed a ₦100 million fine on the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for defaming the Department of State Services (DSS). The judgment was delivered on Tuesday, following a lawsuit filed by DSS officials Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundel, who accused SERAP of damaging their reputations through online reports.

The court ruled that SERAP must issue a public apology to the two officials, publish the apology in two national newspapers, and broadcast it on two television stations, as well as on SERAP's website. Additionally, SERAP was ordered to pay ₦1 million in legal costs, with a 10% annual interest on the judgment sum until full payment is made.

The case stemmed from a ₦5.5 billion lawsuit alleging that SERAP made false claims about DSS officials unlawfully entering its Abuja office in September 2024, which the court found to be unsubstantiated.