Erisco Foods faces backlash for arrest, trial of pregnant woman over social media review of product

LEADERSHIP NG

In a twist of events, Erisco Foods Ltd, a renowned indigenous manufacturer of food products in Nigeria, has come under fire following a controversial arrest and trial of a pregnant woman, Mrs Chioma Okoli, for reviewing its Tomato puree on social media.

The review, which criticised the product’s quality, had led to the arrest of Mrs Okoli and subsequent trial by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for allegedly breaching the country’s cybercrime laws, in a case that has gripped the country and sparked protests by netizens, who believed she is being persecuted for exercising her right to free speech.

Through her counsel, Barr. Inibehe Effiong, netizens had also donated money for her legal fees as a show of solidarity.

The case, has, however, taken a new turn as it has sparked a wave of solidarity from consumers across various online platforms, sharing their own negative experiences and significantly damaging the company’s reputation as reaction to Okoli’s plight.