The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has ordered the Incorporated Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to pay ₦100 million in damages for defaming two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Delivering judgment, Justice Halilu Yusuf ruled that the DSS officials were justified in filing the lawsuit against the organisation, having established that the claims made against them were false.
The case, instituted by the two operatives — Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele— accused SERAP of wrongly alleging that DSS personnel invaded its Abuja office on September 9, 2024. The court found the allegation to be unsubstantiated and defamatory.
In addition to the monetary award, the court directed SERAP to issue a public apology to the claimants. The apology is to be published in two national newspapers and aired on two television stations.
The court further awarded ₦1 million against the organisation as the cost of litigation.
Justice Yusuf also ordered that the ₦100 million damages will attract a 10 per cent interest rate per annum until the full amount is paid.
