News
DSS suit against SERAP adjourns indefinitely
The two operatives, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele had sued SERAP for N5 billion for alleged defamation following SERAP’s accusation that the DSS invaded its Abuja office in 2024.
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High court today adjourned for judgment indefinitely in respect of the defamation suit instituted against Socio-economic and Accountability Project (SERAP) by two operatives of the Department of State Services(DSS).
Justice Yusuf Halilu adjourned for judgment after the adoption of addresses by counsel to the claimants and defendants.
The two operatives, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele had sued SERAP for N5 billion for alleged defamation following SERAP’s accusation that the DSS invaded its Abuja office in 2024.
At the adoption of written addresses today, counsel to SERAP, Victoria Bassey, from Tayo Oyetibo, SAN Chambers, urged the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
Ms Bassey, asserted that the suit was misconceived because the claimants did not establish that the words complained of were published of and concerned them personally.
In the written address, the defendant’s counsel posited:
”The law is firmly settled that in an action for defamation, the burden lies squarely on the claimant to prove, as a threshold and indispensable requirement that the words complained of were published of were published of and concerning him personally.
This requirement is not cosmetic as it goes to the very root of the cause of action and failure to establish it is fatal.It is common ground that none of the publications complained of mentioned the claimants by name, rank, photograph or office.
The referred generically to ‘officers from Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS)’ and complained of the conduct of the DSS as an institution”.
According to the counsel, the claimants have not established that the complaints of SERAP referred to them, adding that “there is no evidence whatsoever that a right-thinking individual reasonably understood the words complained of to refer to either claimants personally”.
In his adoption of address, counsel to the claimants, Oluwagbemileke Kehinde, urged the court to grant all the reliefs of the claimants, and discountenance the defendants’ defence, describing them as incompetent.
News
Police must pay transport fares, says AIG
” No police officer has the right to enter your vehicle without paying. We should assist one another willingly, not by force,” he said.
• The Assistant Inspector-General of Police(AIG) in charge of Zone 2 Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, speaking with transporters at Obalende garage, Lagos State, on Wednesday.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, has declared that officers must pay fares before boarding commercial vehicles, warning against abuse of authority.
Jimoh spoke on Wednesday at Obalende garage during a sensitisation meeting with drivers and transport workers marking National Police Day 2026.
He stressed that relations between police and the public must be based on partnership, not coercion, urging both sides to support each other voluntarily.
“No police officer has the right to enter your vehicle without paying. We should assist one another willingly, not by force,” he said.
Jimoh called for stronger cooperation to maintain safety and order on roads, insisting there was no conflict between officers and transport unions.
“I don’t collect money from officers. We don’t arrest people arbitrarily. If you have issues with any officer, report directly to me,” he said.
(Vanguard)
News
Tinubu scurries to Jos after Mutfwang’s security brief
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will leave for Jos tomorrow to commiserate with the state government and residents over recent deadly gun attacks that lefts dozens dead.
This was following Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s security briefing to the President on the recent violent attack in Angwan Rukuba, Plateau State.
During the meeting on Wednesday at the presidential villa in Abuja, Governor Caleb Mutfwang told Mr President that although security forces have restored calm after fresh disturbances involving looters on Wednesday morning, following the deadly Palm Sunday attack that left more than a dozen dead and many others injured.
He said that investigations are continuing to determine the identities or motives of the attackers who are yet to be apprehended .
Presidency source said that President Tinubu was initially scheduled for a planned trip to Ogun State to flag off operations at the Gateway International Cargo Airport on Thursday.
From Jos, the President will travel to Lagos to observe Good Friday.
On Saturday, April 4, he will visit Ogun State to commission projects including the cargo airport.
He will then return to Lagos during the Easter holiday to commission several state infrastructure projects, including the Ojota/Opebi Link Bridge.
Before heading back to Abuja, the president will visit Bayelsa State on April 10 to commission projects completed under Governor Duoye Diri.
News
JUST IN: Tinubu Heads to Jos Tomorrow, Postpones Ogun Trip for 5-State Visits
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will tomorrow embark on a visit to Jos, Plateau State, as the first leg of a five-state tour across the country.
The Presidency announced that the President has postponed his scheduled trip to Ogun State to enable him to commence the series of official visits.
Details of the remaining four states in the tour are expected to be released by the Presidency in due course.
The development comes as President Tinubu continues nationwide engagements aimed at assessing development projects, interacting with stakeholders, and addressing key national issues in the respective states.
Further updates on the itinerary will be communicated as the visits progress.
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