The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja has adjourned hearing in a 5.5 billion naira defamation suit filed against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, by two operatives of the State Security Services, SSS.
The case, earlier scheduled for hearing on November 12 was adjourned to November 24 following the indisposition of the presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu.
A court registrar, A. O. Yinka, informed lawyers and litigants that the judge instructed him to announce his inability to sit.
At the previous sitting on October 16, SERAP’s counsel, Ebun Adegboruwa (SAN), had written to the court indicating his unavailability for the session.
Counsel to the claimants, Akinlolu Kehinde, who filed the action on behalf of the two SSS operatives, expressed optimism that the matter would proceed on the next adjourned date.
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The plaintiffs, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogunleye, alleged that SERAP defamed them through media publications accusing them of unlawfully invading an office, thereby damaging their reputation as law-abiding security operatives.
They are demanding ₦5.5 billion in compensation and a perpetual injunction restraining SERAP from further defaming them.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
