Businessman files criminal complaint against Ronchess CEO over ‘defamation’

Samson Davies, a businessman, has filed a direct criminal complaint against Jackson Ukuevo, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Ronchess Global Resources Plc, and four others over alleged “criminal defamation”.

Ronchess Global Resources is a Nigerian company that specialises in traffic solutions, construction, and procurement services.

Others mentioned in the criminal complaint are Temitope Adeosin, Omo Umeadi, Ronchess Global Resources Plc, and Ronchess Group Plc.

The direct criminal complaint was filed at the magistrate court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, the nation’s capital.

According to the document, Davies, through his lawyer, told the court that the respondents published “a false and defamatory statement concerning the complainant by way of a ‘disclaimer’ circulated the purported disclaimer” in national newspapers.

In the publication, the businessman said he was accused of misappropriating “the company’s funds running into millions of naira” and failing to “account for several operational sums entrusted to him”.

“No court in Nigeria or anywhere else convicted the complainant of any criminality, let alone any of the criminal infractions insinuated in the publication caused to be published by the defendants,” Davies told the court.

“That the said publication falsely accused the complainant of stealing, blackmailing, breach of trust, financial misconduct, corporate and attempted economic sabotage, knowing fully that such allegations were false and without lawful justification.

“That the said statement was made maliciously, without legal or moral justification, and with intent to lower the complainant in the estimation of right-thinking members of the society, to expose the complainant to hatred, contempt, or ridicule, and/or to injure the reputation of the complainant.

“That as a result of the defendant’s actions, the complainant has suffered grave reputational damage, emotional distress, and public embarrassment.”

Davies sought an order of the court to compel the commissioner of police in the federal capital territory (FCT) to arrest the respondents for the purpose of investigation.

In July, the company distanced itself from Davies, a former consultant, over alleged fraud, breach of trust, and corporate sabotage.

The company had said that Davies was sacked on November 23, 2023, following an internal investigation that uncovered “serious financial misconduct”.

Ronchess had said the alleged offences were reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which resulted in Davies’ arrest in May 2025 and subsequent arraignment before Mojisola Dada, a judge, at the special offences court in Ikeja, Lagos.

On Tuesday, Theresa Otu, the chief magistrate, issued an order that the summons of Ukuevo (first defendant) and Adeosin (second defendant) be published in national newspapers.