Justice Halilu Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has ordered the Incorporated Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to pay ₦100 million in damages over a defamation case.
Delivering judgment, Justice Yusuf ruled that two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, were justified in filing the suit against SERAP. The claimants had accused the organisation of falsely alleging that they invaded SERAP’s Abuja office on September 9, 2024.
The court further directed SERAP to issue a public apology to the two DSS officials. The apology is to be published in two national newspapers and aired on two television stations.
In addition to the damages, the court awarded ₦1 million as the cost of litigation and ordered that the ₦100 million compensation attract a 10 per cent interest rate annually until it is fully paid.
