DSS Clarifies SERAP Defamation Case: Operatives Sued Personally, Not Agency

The Punch reports on the Department of State Services' (DSS) clarification regarding the defamation case involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). It is crucial for our readers to understand that this legal action was initiated by individual DSS operatives, not the agency as an institution. This distinction is vital in understanding the nuances of the legal proceedings and the DSS's position.

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In the course of their lawful duty, felt defamed by SERAP.

The DSS emphasizes that its operatives, feeling defamed by SERAP's allegations of unlawful invasion and harassment, sought legal redress in their personal capacity after an internal investigation. The court's ruling, awarding N100 million in damages and ordering public apologies, is presented by the DSS as a remedy for injustice suffered by its officers who were carrying out their lawful duties.

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The Service expresses happiness over the remedy to the injustice SERAP did to its officers.

However, SERAP's strong rejection of the judgment, labeling it a 'travesty' and a 'strategic lawsuit against public participation,' highlights the ongoing tension between state security apparatus and civil society organizations advocating for accountability. SERAP's intent to appeal signals a continued fight for what it perceives as the protection of civic space and freedom of expression in Nigeria, a concern that resonates deeply within our society. The differing perspectives underscore the complex landscape of rights, security, and public discourse in Nigeria.

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Seriously flawed” and a “travesty”