Legal Practitioner Daniel Bwala has expressed support for Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) amid the agency filing a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Bwala asserted that SERAP’s claims remain unsubstantiated and highlighted the organisation’s questionable history, stating, “What they are doing is inciting the public against law enforcement.”
Two officials from the DSS recently filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against SERAP, a prominent civil society organisation. The lawsuit follows SERAP’s allegations, made on September 9, claiming that DSS agents unlawfully occupied its Abuja office and demanded to meet with the organisation’s directors.
Bwala, in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, expressed his support for the DSS, stating that the claims made by SERAP lack substantial evidence. He commented, “In this real case scenario, I stand with the Department of State Services (DSS). The claim by SERAP has not been substantiated by any of the civil societies.”
Bwala, while pointing out that individuals can seek legal redress if they believe law enforcement has unlawfully invaded their premises, also stated that “some of these non-governmental organisations have checkered histories of false allegations.
“The whole idea is that they just bait them because you know it’s law enforcement.”
Highlighting SERAP’s record, Bwala noted that in the past decade, the organisation has succeeded in less than 15% of the cases it has filed against the federal government.
He added, “There are so many claims that SERAP has made over the years that have not been substantiated. What they are doing is inciting the public against law enforcement.”
In a broader context, Bwala defended the current administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, asserting, “I make bold to say that I have not seen any evidence to suggest that this administration is stifling the rights of individuals or is fighting the opposition.”
Frances Ibiefo
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