The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arraigned one Oliver Benstowe for allegedly defaming the character of the Chief Executive Officer of Ricardo Security Services Nigeria Limited, Richard Abbey.

According to the charge sheet sighted by Kristina Reports, Benstowe was arraigned in court on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at a Rivers State Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

This might not be unconnected with the renewed vigour displayed by the Rivers State Command recently spurred by the avowal of the State Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong Okon that the Police would sustain its onslaught against all forms of criminality in the State under his watch.

Oliver Benstowe, a 58-year-old native of Orosikiri Community in Bonny LGA of Rivers State, was accused b the Police of allegedly calling Mr. Abbey “a fraudster and a person of questionable character, which it said was aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the latter, stating that the accused “thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol 11 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.

“That you Warisenibo Oliver Bestowe ‘m sometimes in the month of July, 2022 at State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Port Harcourt in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District did defame the character of one Richard Abbey ‘m by calling him a fraudster and a person of questionable character with intent to tarnish his reputation and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol 11 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”

Benstowe pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N300,000 and to have an adult resident of Port Harcourt stand surety for him.  

The presiding Magistrate, O. R. Alaiyi-George subsequently adjourned the case to Thursday, January 26, 2023 for hearing.