DSS vs SERAP: N5.5bn Defamation Suit Adjourned To Feb 19

A witness of the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Kolawole Oluwadare, on Monday, admitted at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that he used some harsh words like “unlawful, invasion, intimidation and harassment” which wrongly depicted an invasion that did not happen in some publications, made against the Department of the State […]

A witness of the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Kolawole Oluwadare, on Monday, admitted at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that he used some harsh words like “unlawful, invasion, intimidation and harassment” which wrongly depicted an invasion that did not happen in some publications, made against the Department of the State Service (DSS).

The witness who also admitted that SERAP has both local and international fund donors admitted using the words in the publications based on information supplied to him by one Vivian Amadi, a front Desk officer and receptionist with the organization.

Oluwadare admitted using the words while being crossed examined by Oluwagbemileke Samuel Kehinde in a N5.5bn defamation suit instituted against SERAP by two operatives of the DSS, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele.

The witness said that the publications were based on the presence of two DSS officers in SERAP office on September 9, 2024.

He said that he was not in the office when Vivian Amadi called him to inform him of the presence of the DSS officers in the compound of his organization.

Oluwadare who was taken through two exhibits, publications made by him against DSS read out the first paragraph of one of the publications where the alleged harsh words were used based on information supplied him.

In the publication posted on SERAP website, he raised an alarm that DSS had invaded SERAP office unlawfully, intimidating and harassing its staff and called on President Bola Tinubu to call DSS officers to order.

He however disagreed that the words used in the publications are serious allegations against the two claimants.

The witness also admitted that he did not consult DSS because causing the publications on the website of SERAP.

He admitted that throughout the presence of the two DSS officers in the SERAP office, no property of the organization was seized or damaged and that no staff was physically assaulted by the security agents.

Answering a question, the SERAP witness said that the DSS officers did not break any door to gain entrance into the organization’s office.

He also said that the security agents did not brandize any weapon but that the first claimant (Sarah John) was making calls asking other officers not to come inside SERAP office but to take their position.

He said that he had the CCTV footage of the DSS officers entrance into the organization’s office.

The witness had earlier adopted his witness statement made on oath during his his evidence in chief where he was led by lawyer Oluwatosin Adesioye.

Meanwhile, Justice Halilu Yusuf has fixed February 19, 2026 for adoption of final addresses by parties in the suit.

In the suit, marked: CV/4547/2024, filed in the names of two officials of DSS – Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele – the claimants accused the defendants of making false claim that John and Ogundele invaded SERAP’s Abuja office.

The claimant stated among others, that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted on its reputation and that of the two officials involved.