Erisco Vs Chioma Okoli: IGP Sues Female Customer For ‘Criminal False Message’ About Tomato Product

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has sued Chioma Egodi before the Federal High Court, Abuja, for allegedly instigating the public against a product of Erisco Foods Limited through her Facebook page.

THE WHISTLER recalls that the CEO of Erisco Foods, Eric Omeofia, had alleged in 2023 that a negative product review by a customer, Chioma Egodi, negatively impacted his business when she claimed that the Nagiko Tomota Mix she bought had too much sugar.

Okoli was eventually arrested by the police in September 2023 with her lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, raising alarm that the fundamental right of his client was being breached by the police and Omeofia.

But in the IGP charge sheet sighted by our correspondent on Thursday, the complainant insisted that the defendant falsely made a post on Facebook to incite and to cause needless anxiety against the company.

The two-count charge reads, “That you Chioma Edoka Okoli also known as Chioma Egodi Jnr, Happiness Obas now at large And Don Kashking now at large ‘m’ of on or about sometime in the month of September 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourself and intentionally sent a message by means of computer and social media network such as Facebook, by using your Facebook handle by name Chioma Egodi Jnr, with the intention of instigating people against Erisco Foods Limited, knowing the said information to be false and with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, the management, and members of the family, thereby committed an offense contrary and punishable under Section 27 (1) (B) Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.

“That you Chioma Edoka Okoli also known as Chioma Egodi Jnr, Happiness Obas now at large and Don Kashking now at large ‘m’ of on or about sometime in the month of September, 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court intentionally send a message by means of computer and social media network such as Facebook, by using your Facebook handle by name Chioma Egodi Jnr, with the intention of instigating Erisco Foods Limited, knowing the said information to be false and with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, the management, and members of the family, and thereby committed an offense contrary and punishable under Section 24 (1) (B) Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.”

In the IGP’s proof of evidence sighted by THE WHISTLER, two police officers with the rank of Deputy Superintendent and Sergent will tell the court the extent of their team’s investigation on the matter.

But in a preliminary objection filed by Effiong, the court was urged to decline jurisdiction on the case because the matter arose from Lagos State.

After hearing the parties on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu adjourned to April 18 for possible arraignment of the defendant and/or hearing.