A Magistrate Court in Gusau, Zamfara State, has issued a warrant for the arrest of businessman Samson Davies, founder of Signature Advisory Limited, in connection with allegations of misappropriation, breach of trust, and defamation.

The warrant, dated July 29, 2025, was contained in certified court records obtained on Friday. This followed a suit on alleged defamation filed by Ronchess Global Resources Plc against the businessman.

Law enforcement officials said attempts were made in early August to execute the warrant at Davies’ Abuja residence in Wuse Zone 2, but to no avail.

When contacted, Davies told The Guardian that the proceedings against him at the Magistrate Court in Zamfara were retaliatory.

He disclosed that his lawyers had filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the Zamfara Magistrate’s Court.

The objection, seen by The Guardian, reads in part: “The Honourable Court lacks territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter as the alleged facts did not occur within the jurisdiction of this court. The complaint constitutes an abuse of court process, being a retaliatory action to a pending civil suit against the complainants before the High Court of Zamfara State, as well as a pending criminal complaint before the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, FCT Abuja, and a Fundamental Rights enforcement suit initiated by the Defendant against the complainants before the Federal High Court.”

The arrest order adds to a series of pending legal issues involving the businessman. In June, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced that it had filed a criminal charge against Mr Davies and his company, Signature Advisory Limited, before the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.

According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the commission arraigned Mr. Davies and his firm before Justice Mojisola Dada on a one-count charge bordering on alleged dishonest conversion of N190,791,494 belonging to Ronchess Global Resources Plc.

The charge sheet stated: “That you, Samson Davies and Signature Advisory Limited, sometime between October 2022 and October 2023, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use the aggregate sum of N190,791,494 (One Hundred and Ninety Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety-Four Naira), property of Ronchess Global Resources Plc.”

Davies pleaded not guilty to the allegation. Following his plea, EFCC counsel C.C. Okezie requested that the court remand him in custody pending trial. Defence counsel Ifeoma Esom, however, requested bail on liberal terms.

Justice Dada subsequently granted bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties was required to own landed property in Lagos, and the defendant was directed to deposit his international passport with the court. The sureties were also ordered to produce evidence of tax clearance.

The trial was adjourned to October 2025 for continuation of proceedings.