Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has adjourned hearing in a ₦5.5 billion defamation suit filed against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) by two Department of State Services (DSS) operatives to November 12.
The adjournment followed the absence of SERAP’s counsel, Ebun Adegboruwa (SAN), who informed the court via a letter that he was attending to another matter at the Court of Appeal in Lagos.
The plaintiffs, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogunleye, are seeking ₦5.5 billion in damages, alleging that SERAP defamed them in a media publication which falsely claimed they unlawfully invaded an office. According to them, the publication damaged their reputations as law-abiding security officers.
They are also asking the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining SERAP from further defaming them.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel for the claimants, Akinlolu Kehinde, did not oppose the request for adjournment. Justice Halilu subsequently rescheduled the hearing for November 12, when SERAP is expected to respond to the claims.
