SERAP That Once Defended You, Now DSS Targets, Amnesty Int’l Tells Ribadu

The legal adviser at Amnesty International’s Secretariat in London, Kolawole Olaniyan, has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of using the judicial system to harass the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, under the watch of the national security adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu.

Olaniyan said it was ironic that SERAP, which repeatedly defended Ribadu when he was targeted for confronting corruption, was now facing what he described as similar tactics of harassment and intimidation.

He stated this in an article titled, “When the State Turns the Law Against Dissent Under Tinubu’s Watch,” made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday.

Olaniyan recalled that SERAP defended Ribadu in 2008 after the Yar’Adua administration removed him as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and sent him on a purported “refresher course.”

According to him, SERAP condemned Ribadu’s removal, petitioned the United Nations (UN) and threatened legal action over his replacement.

He said, “Today, under Ribadu’s watch as national security adviser, the DSS is weaponising the judicial system against SERAP and other critics.”

Olaniyan also cited the N100m damages awarded against SERAP by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in May 2026, saying the organisation had appealed the judgment and sought a stay of execution.

He said the development raised concerns about the rule of law, judicial independence and whether civil society organisations could challenge abuses of state power without fear of reprisals.