…Court adjourns to Feb 19, for final address
A Deputy Director with the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Kolawole Oluwadare on Monday, November 24, 2025, admitted before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), that he used some harsh words like “unlawful, invasion, intimidation and harassment” 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, said that he used the words in the publications following information supplied to him by one Vivian Amadi, a front Desk officer and receptionist with his organization.
Oluwadare, who 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, said that the publications were based on the presence of the two DSS officers in SERAP office on September 9, 2024.
The SERAP director 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 premises of his organization.
Oluwadare, who was taken through two exhibits, publications made by him against DSS read the first paragraph of one of the publications where the alleged that 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 the DSS officers to order.
Oluwadare however, disagreed that the words used in the publications are serious allegations against the two claimants even as he said that he did not consult the DSS before he posted on the website of SERAP.
The SERAP official also admitted that throughout the presence of the two DSS officers in the SERAP office, no property of the organization was seized or damaged just as no staff was physically assaulted by the security agents.
While answering a question, Oluwadare said that the DSS officers did not break any door to gain entrance into the organization’s office, adding that they did not brandish any weapon.
He however, said that the first claimant (Sarah John) was making calls asking other officers not to come inside SERAP office but to take their position, saying that he has 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 evidence in chief where he was led by lawyer Oluwatosin Adesioye.
After listening to the witness, Justice Halilu Yusuf 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 had negatively impacted on its reputation and that of the two officials involved.
The claimant in its statement said that in line with its practice of engaging with officials of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their leadership, directed the two officials – John and Ogunleye – to visit SERAP’s office and invite its new leadership for a familiarisation meeting.
The claimants added that in carrying out the directive, John and Ogunleye paid a friendly visit to SERAP’s office at 18 Bamako Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja on September 9, 2024 and met with one Ruth, who upon being informed about the purpose of the visit, claimed that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the country and advised that a formal letter of invitation be written by the DSS.
John and Ogundele, who claimed that their interactions with Ruth were recorded, said before they exited SERAP’s office, Ruth promised to inform her organisation’s management about the visit and volunteered a phone number – 08160537202.
The duo said it was surprising that, shortly after their visit, SERAP posted on its X (Twitter) handle: @SERAPNigeria, that officers of the DSS are presently unlawfully occupying its office.
The claimant added that “on the same day, the defendants also published a statement on SERAP’s website, which was widely reported by several media outfits, alleging that some officers from the DSS, described as “a tall, large, dark-skinned woman” and “a slim, dark skinned man,” invaded their Abuja office and interrogated the staff of the first defendant (SERAP).
John and Ogundele said that “due to the false statements published by the defendants, the DSS has been ridiculed and criticised by international agencies such as the Amnesty International and prominent members of the Nigerian society, such as Femi Falana (SAN).
“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, members of the public and the international community formed the opinion that the Federal Government is using the DSS to harass the defendants,” the claimant said.
They added that the defendants’ statements caused harm to the claimants’ reputation because the staff and management of the DSS have formed the opinion that the claimants did not follow orders and carried out an unsanctioned operation and are therefore, incompetent and unprofessional.
The claimants are therefore praying the court for the following reliefs:
*An order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via the first defendant’s (SERAP’s) website, X (twitter) handle, two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television) for falsely accusing the claimants of unlawfully invading the first defendant’s office and interrogating the first defendant’s staff.
*An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N5billion as damages for the libellous statements published about the claimants.
*Interest on the sum of N5b at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is realised or liquidated.
*AN order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N50million as costs of this action.
