The content discusses the case of Chioma Okoli, a Nigerian woman who is facing imprisonment for writing an online review of a can of tomato puree that allegedly damaged the business of the manufacturer, Erisco Foods Limited. Okoli’s review on Facebook sparked varied reactions from commenters, leading to her arrest on charges of breaching the country’s cybercrime laws. If found guilty, she could face up to three years in jail or a fine of 7 million naira. She is also facing a civil lawsuit from Erisco seeking 5 billion naira in damages.
Okoli was detained in a leaky police cell after her arrest in September, held in Abuja overnight, and later released on bail. She was supposed to publicly apologize to Erisco as a condition of her release, but she did not apologize as she agreed to it under duress. Okoli’s lawyer filed a countersuit against Erisco and the police, challenging her arrest and detention as a violation of her constitutional rights. Effiong argued that Okoli’s arrest was a breach of her freedom of expression and sought to transfer the cybercrime case to Lagos, where she resides.
Legal and public affairs analyst Kelechukwu Uzoka explained that while there are limits to freedom of speech, cybercrime can be challenging to prove in court. Erisco must demonstrate that Okoli’s Facebook post actually harmed their business at the time it was made. Amnesty International Nigeria has called for an end to the harassment and intimidation of Okoli, leading to online crowdfunding efforts to support her legal fees. The case has sparked protests and calls for a boycott of Erisco’s products on social media.
Effiong, Okoli’s lawyer, described the legal battle as a “David vs. Goliath” situation, with David being right and Goliath being wrong. He filed a countersuit seeking 500 million naira against both Erisco and the police for violating Okoli’s constitutional rights. The case has generated significant attention both within Nigeria and internationally, with Okoli and her legal team preparing for the upcoming court hearings. Erisco’s founder, Eric Umeofia, remains steadfast in pursuing legal action against Okoli, stating that he worked 40 years to build his reputation and will not allow it to be tarnished.
