Policemen have attempted to rearrest Chioma Okoli, a Lagos resident who published a negative review of Erisco Tomato Mix, FIJ has learned.
On Tuesday, Inibehe Effiong, her lawyer, posted on X (formerly Twitter) explaining how some policemen invaded her house earlier in the day at about 7 am. He said they attempted to rearrest her in disregard for a court ruling barring them from doing so.
Effiong attached copies of a subsisting order of the Federal High Court in Lagos dated November 8, 2023.
According to this order issued by Justice Y. Bogoro, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Nigerian police are barred from arresting or detaining Okoli while her case with Erisco Foods Ltd. is ongoing.
On September 17, Okoli made a post on her Facebook page, highlighting the high sugar content in the tomato mix and inviting her followers who might have used the same product to share their opinions. Her post reads:
“I went to buy tin tomatoes yesterday that I will use to make stew. I didn’t see Gino and Sonia, so I decided to buy this one (Nagiko). When I opened it omo! I decided to taste it. Sugar is just too much. Haa biko (please) let me know if you have used this tin tomato before because this is an ike gwuru (tiring) situation.”
Days later, police arrested her following a petition by Eric Umeofia, president and CEO of the company. Both parties have been in court since.
Effiong has now accused the police of acting in bad faith, and the IGP of disobeying the court.
“A team of policemen from Abuja—who claim to be acting on the orders of the Inspector General of Police to re-arrest my client—refused to serve us with a court order authorizing them to do so,” Effiong wrote. “The team from Abuja is being supported by policemen from the Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah.
“The initial team that arrived at her residence called for reinforcement after we demanded to see the court order authorizing them to rearrest her. They are currently trying to break into her house where she lives with her baby.”
Effiong added that he spoke with one of the policemen, who confirmed the IGP sent them to the scene.
“The team leader told me over the phone that he is a DSP and that he had four ASPs with him and other police officers. He also told me that the PSO to the IGP spoke with him directly and that he could not disobey the order of the IGP despite the court order barring the police from re-arresting my client.
“How can the IGP issue a directive to overrule the subsisting order of a court of competent jurisdiction? Is this how we want to develop our country?”
FIJ called Muyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, but he did no take our calls. At press time, he had also not responded to a message sent to him on WhatsApp.
