The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has reiterated that the Department of State Services (DSS) unlawfully entered its Abuja office on September 9, 2024, dismissing claims that its deputy director “admitted to no invasion” as false.

In a statement on Tuesday, SERAP stressed:

“We stand by our statements on oath, statements of defence, and the correct proceedings in court on Monday, November 24, 2025, to the effect that the DSS unlawfully invaded SERAP’s office.”

The DSS had previously claimed its visit was part of a routine investigation and filed a N5 billion defamation suit against SERAP and two officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, alleging that SERAP’s claims harmed their reputations.

Addressing recent media reports of Monday’s court session, SERAP said some outlets misrepresented the proceedings, potentially misleading the public. The rights group noted that leading newspapers like Punch and Vanguard accurately covered the court events, where SERAP was represented by five senior lawyers from the firms of Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).

SERAP condemned the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) by Nigerian authorities, describing them as contrary to the 1999 Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

“These authoritarian practices will surely fail,” the statement concluded.