The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has disclosed details of an incident involving officials from Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), the country’s secret police. According to SERAP, DSS agents who reportedly raided their office in Abuja used false identities and arrived in two unmarked vehicles.

Reports by JOINTEARN indicate that in September, SERAP alleged that DSS agents had invaded their Abuja office without prior notice or legitimate identification. Responding to these claims, the DSS issued a statement describing their visit as part of a “routine investigation.” However, shortly afterward, two DSS officials filed a defamation lawsuit against SERAP, seeking damages amounting to over N5 billion.

In a recent court hearing, SERAP’s defense counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, told the Federal Capital Territory High Court that one of the DSS officials involved used the alias “Sarah David” to conceal their true identity. This tactic, according to the defense team, highlights what they described as the agency’s “bad faith and sinister motives.”

The defense lawyers further argued that it is not customary for the DSS to interact with officials of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in any official capacity, whether in Abuja or elsewhere, and certainly not for purposes of establishing new relationships or social interactions.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of Court 13 heard the case on Thursday and adjourned proceedings until November 29, 2024, for further deliberation.