Be it catching cruise online (dragging as described generally) or sharing products review to condemning, there is a thin line between these and cyber crime act especially when it is done to draw negative attention.
If you remember the story of Chioma Egodi, the lady who gave a negative review of its product, Nagiko Tomato Mix, then you’d have to ask who you need to reach out to first when you have issues with any product – is it the customer care, online review or government agency?
On 17 September 2023, Egodi posted on X (formerly Twitter) the image of the tomato tin which she bought from a store and wrote, “I decided to taste it. Sugar is just too much.”
After the post has gathered public attention with reactions for and against the brand, Erisco responded saying its attention has been
“drawn to a Facebook post by one Chioma Egodi Jnr on September 17, 2023, alleging that Nagiko Tomato Mix, one of the three tomato paste variants of Erisco Foods Limited, contains an unhealthy amount of sugar and therefore not fit for human consumption.
“We will take all necessary actions against any malicious attack on our reputation,” the statement affirmed.
Not long after that, the Director-General of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Babatunde Irukere confirmed Chioma has been arrested.
Writing on X, he said:
“@fccpcnigeria operatives have confirmed arrest and transfer of the case to Abuja by the Police Force. She was no longer at the station on arrival. Working to determine exact current location & engaging Force HQ in Abuja. Summons being issued to @EriscoFoodsLtd immediately.”
This update was then met with anger by the public who could not justify the process leading to this hence calling for the boycott of the producing and then pushing the narratives on X with the hashtag: #BoycottEriscoFoods.
On the part of the Nigeria Police, the matter was further addressed by a public warning on breaking the law and order on the matter. A statement from the Public Relations Officer of the Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on the matter last week reads:
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to upholding the rule of law in the Erisco Tomato matter. The involvement of Mrs. Chioma warrants scrutiny as she stands accused of violating some salient parts of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 as preliminary investigations conducted have unearthed compelling evidence indicating Mrs. Chioma’s alleged role in the violation of extant laws, particularly those related to the proper use of the cyber space.
At this juncture, it is imperative to caution members of the public against spreading misinformation and attempting to manipulate public sentiment. The law operates impartially, and any attempt to subvert it will be met with the full force of legal action. 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.
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.
Undisturbed by all that has been said by the police, there has been more support and a solidarity walk has also been scheduled in Lagos for Chioma by some female pressure groups alike and shared on WhatsApp, X, Facebook among others. The call for the walk reads thus:
“Please join the Solidarity Walk for Chioma Okoli in Lagos on March 12, 2024!”
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