ERISCO TOMATOES: ‘No Sentiment In Law’ — Police Reaffirm Prosecution of Chioma Okoli

The Nigeria Police Force has expressed its commitment to upholding the rule of law concerning the case of Erisco Tomato vs Mrs Chioma Okoli.

The police disclosed this on Thursday following Nigerians’ demand that its operatives halt harassing Mrs Okoli after her ‘review’ of Nagiko Tomato snowballed into a serious ongoing court case.

The case between both parties, started on September 17, 2023, when Okoli in a now-deleted Facebook post alleged that a Nagiko Tomato mix she purchased tasted sugary, drawing the attention of Erisco Food’s Chairman and Nagiko Tomato manufacturer, Chief Umeofia.

The company subsequently filed a complaint, and Mrs Okoli was arrested on the grounds that “the post was obviously intended to mislead our esteemed customers and discredit the image of Erisco Foods Limited.” She was released three days later.

Despite various call-outs by Nigerians and Civil Society groups for the police and the company to refrain from prosecuting and traumatising pregnant Mrs Okoli and her family, the police in its latest release insisted that the petition against her accuses her of violating Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.

“…Preliminary investigations conducted have unearthed compelling evidence indicating Mrs. Chizoba’s alleged role in the violation of extant laws, particularly those related to the proper use of cyberspace.”

The police, while cautioning Nigerians to refrain from disseminating misinformation and manipulating public sentiment, noted that the law operates impartially, and any attempt to subvert it will be met with the full force of legal action.

The police noted, “The recent developments in the case are deeply worrisome, particularly the use of crowdfunding as a means to influence legal proceedings. Such actions undermine the integrity of the justice system and threaten the principles of fairness and accountability as they are highly inimical to the existence of the rule of law.

“This case in point underscores the necessity of enforcing existing legislation, including the Cybercrime Act, to counteract the current spate of violations of the Act and spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media.

“It is vital to reaffirm that the Nigeria Police is poised to enforce all laws without fear, favour, or sentiments in its commitment to ensuring justice and transparency for all citizens.

“We therefore advise the suspect to cease the continual jumping bail and turn up in court, as a neutral arbiter, to determine the matter, and allow justice to take its course, while we admonish Nigerians, most especially social media influencers, to resort to embracing the rule of law, and shun all display of sentiments in the case, and in many others as the police will not be deterred by the antics of certain individuals to pervert justice in any way.”