Police drop charges defamation charges filed against Bayelsa-based journalist

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Police Command in Bayelsa has dropped defamation charges it filed against a Bayelsa-based journalist, Mr Nengi Owei-Ilagha.

The journalist was being prosecuted at the Federal High Court Yenagoa for allegedly making defamatory posts against Mr Emmanuel Chiefson on Facebook.

Police prosecutor, Mr Monday Benabo, who had earlier sought an adjournment to seek an out-of-court resolution of the faceoff between Owei-Ilag and Chiefson announced the withdrawal of the charges on Tuesday.

Justice Isa Dashen subsequently struck out the case.

Owei-Ilagha was on Jan.16, 2023, arraigned by Police in Bayelsa which filed a three-count charge with No FHC/YNG/88C/2022 before Justice Emmanuel Gakko.

Dashen inherited the case following the transfer of the initial trial judge out of jurisdiction.

Chiefson, is a member of the Police Community Relations Committee in Bayelsa.