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Court begins hearing on DSS’ ₦5b defamation case against SERAP

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A high court of the Federal Capital Territory on Friday began definite hearing in the case of defamation instituted by two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

The officers instituted the case after SERAP, last September, failed to apologize to the secret police after accusing its operatives of invading its Abuja office. The DSS officers, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, consequently filed the defamation lawsuit in October 2024, seeking ₦5 billion in damages from SERAP.

In addition to the remedy sought by the officers for what they called reputational harm, was demand for an apology published on SERAP’s website, national dailies and television stations, N50 million for legal costs and 10 percent annual interest on the N5 billion until payment is completed.
At the resumed hearing, the presiding judge, advised the defence (SERAP) to go through all the six documents tendered by the plaintiffs. He stressed that all objections would be part of the final written address.

The hearing kicked off with the cross examination of the first claimant, Sarah, referred to as ( Plaintiff Witness 1) PW1, by the counsels to the first and second defendants.
SERAP was represented in court by Divine Oguru, while its deputy director was represented by Oluwatosin Adesoye, who apologized for the absence of his client.
Akinolu Timothy Kehinde, SAN, who represented the plaintiffs, said he was fully prepared for the hearing.

Both defence counsels cross examined DSS operative Sarah on happenings surrounding the alleged invasion of SERAP office last year.

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Both counsels pushed the argument that the claimants’ names were not mentioned by SERAP, hence not justified in the claims before the court.
Sarah stated that SERAP’s allegations negatively impacted her reputation, that of her colleague, as well as the entire DSS.
After a session that lasted for about an hour, the judge adjourned to May 8, 2025, for continuation of definite hearing on the matter.

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NAWOJ Celebrate International Women Day, Charge Women to Amplify their Voice through Reportage

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By Nahum Sule, Jalingo

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) Taraba State chapter on Friday, 21 March, charged women not to be silent but speak out through reportage the plight and marginalisation of Nigeria women.

Speaking during the event that commorate the international women day, the NUJ Chairman Taraba state chapter, Mr. Elliud Jen said the international women day acknowledged women growth in Nigeria.

Stating that it has created a path where women amplify their voices against subjugation.

In her welcome address, the chairperson NAWOJ Taraba State chapter, Hon. Janet Audu Nyajon encouraged women in journalism to vibrant and speak out, pointing to the theme for the year that charged women to amplify their voice through reportage.

“I charged you women in journalism to accelerate your action through reportage to ensure women’s voices are heard, and women get equal rights at homes and the political spheres of the nation.

 

The Deputy Director of News and current affairs Mrs. Gloria Balogun, in her paper presentation, she pointed out the situation of Sen Natasha and the Senate president in a society where men are dominant. She stressed that, Sen. Natasha is a protagonist of women in Nigeria, stating that if women have equal representation in the Senate, Natasha voice would have been heard.

She also highlighted that women are dominated, that Nigeria women suffer unwanted predices that need to be reported daily for the right of a woman.

She charge women to come together to amplify their voices and gain domestic and legislative recognition in Nigeria.

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She further highlighted the plight on women in Nigeria, ranging from female mutilation, women participation in politics, and so on.

In her goodwill messages, Mrs Chilean Diamond Jonathan, a motivational speaker, also charged women not to feel less of their self but to be a warrior of truth and shattered the silence that face women.

The program, which h was heard at the NUJ press conference in Jalingo, was attended by many stakeholders who spoke variously in their goodwill messages, encouraging women participation in politics and condemning domestic violence.

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Super Eagles’ coach demands more in spite Rwanda win

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Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle, says the team still needs to improve in spite of the 2-0 victory over the Amavubi of Rwanda on Friday in Kigali.

The encounter was a matchday 5 fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Malian said at the post match conference that he is happy with the performance of his players against a tough Rwandan side.

He expressed delight at the win but stressed the need for the team to improve ahead of there next game on Tuesday in Uyo against bottom placed Zimbabwe.

“I just want to say it was a difficult game because Rwanda is a good side, I know the coach, he is a good coach, we made a great game too.

“I am so happy and proud of my players, my guys and the Nigerian people” Chelle said.

He said the team worked a lot in the last one week sourcing information for his players with lots of video sessions after two training practices.

“I think the victory or the win is normal because in the first half they had only one chance to score.

“We keep the ball in the 2nd half. We played two to three systems .

“I am happy now because this is just one game. We have some weaknesses and some strengths, my job is to think about the game project” Chelle said.(NAN)

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Police nab 2 suspects for exhuming corpses, selling parts for rituals

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Oyo State Police Command has arrested 2 suspects over alleged exhumation of corpses and sale of their parts to ritualists.

The Command’s spokesman, Adewale Osifeso made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Ibadan.

He said that the arrest of the suspects was made possible following a tip-off received by detectives at the Iyaganku Divisional Police Headquarters in Ibadan.

Osifeso said that acting on the information, detectives were immediately deployed to conduct a search of the residence of one the suspects located at the Muslim area of Ibadan.

“During the search, a female human torso and other dismembered human remains, including severed limbs and dried bones, which were stored in bags and a paint buckets, were recovered.

” In his confession, the suspect claimed to have exhumed the corpse from a cemetery in Awa-Ijebu, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, and admitted to selling the body parts to ritualists,” the command’s spokesman said.

According to him, the suspect later led detectives to the cemetery, where his claim was verified and further confession led to the arrest of the second suspect, a septuagenarian, who bought some human parts from him.

“He also admitted to his involvement in the illicit trade in human body parts.

“The case has been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department for detailed investigation, as efforts are being intensified to identify and apprehend all those involved,” Osifeso said.

He said that the Commissioner of Police in the State, Johnson Ademola, had alerted managers of cemeteries to exercise heightened vigilance in light of recent instances of ritualists exhuming corpses.

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Ademola further warned transporters to scrutinise the contents of their passengers’ bags and baggages to avoid inadvertently facilitating illicit activities.

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