SERAP Defends Its Mission in High-Stakes N5 Billion Defamation Case
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has strongly defended its mandate before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, stating that its work focuses on advancing economic rights and accountability rather than engaging in anti-government criticism.
Justice Yusuf Halilu presided over the case on Monday, where the court adjourned proceedings to February 19 for the adoption of final written addresses in the N5 billion defamation suit filed against SERAP. The case, marked FCT/HC/CV/4547/24, was initiated by Sera John and Gabriel Ogundele, both officials of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Court Proceedings and SERAP's Defense
During the resumed hearing, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP's Deputy Director and the second defendant in the case, opened his defense after the court approved a housekeeping application that allowed amendments to previously filed processes.
Testifying as PW2, Oluwadare adopted his sworn statement and provided additional clarification about SERAP's operational mandate and the circumstances surrounding the alleged invasion of the organization's Abuja office. He emphasized that SERAP is a duly registered non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and social justice in Nigeria.
Oluwadare firmly rejected claims that SERAP exists primarily to criticize the government, stating clearly that the organization's work concentrates on protecting human and socio-economic rights in the public interest. He highlighted that harassment and intimidation of civil society organizations significantly undermine SERAP's capacity to hold public institutions accountable.
Cross-Examination and Key Evidence
Under cross-examination conducted by the claimants' counsel, Oluwagmileke Kehinde, Oluwadare maintained his initial testimony that DSS operatives were visibly present at SERAP's premises on the day of the incident, which prompted the organization to issue public alerts about the situation.
He informed the court that multiple staff members, including a front-desk officer, a security guard, and a lawyer, had reported the presence of the officials. While acknowledging that no staff member was physically assaulted and no doors were forcibly opened during the incident, Oluwadare insisted that the manner of entry and the use of unmarked vehicles created legitimate concern and justified SERAP's subsequent public statements.
The SERAP deputy director also revealed to the court that the organization possesses CCTV footage capturing the entire incident, adding that the tweets issued by SERAP accurately reflected the seriousness of what staff members observed during the event.
Following the completion of cross-examination, counsel for the claimants informed the court that both parties had concluded the trial phase and requested a date for the adoption of final written addresses. Justice Halilu subsequently adjourned the case to February 19 for the filing and adoption of these final submissions.
The defendants in this high-profile lawsuit remain SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, as the case moves toward its conclusion in early 2025.
