After spending three nights in detention, Chioma Okoli, under police prosecution for her review of an Erisco Foods product, was granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, with a bond set at N5 million.
Okoli, accused by the police of cybercrime offenses stemming from her social media review of a tomato paste produced by Erisco Foods, had been remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre near Abuja earlier in the week, following complaints lodged by the company against her.
The charges brought against Okoli under Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act have raised concerns among rights advocates who view the law, particularly its Section 24, as a tool used for the suppression of dissenting voices.
During Friday’s bail hearing, the prosecution argued against Okoli’s release, expressing fears that she might abscond if granted bail. However, Judge Peter Lifu, citing Section 36 (5) of the Constitution, emphasized the presumption of innocence until proven guilty and granted bail to Okoli.
The conditions for bail included a N5 million bond and the provision of two sureties, who must either be her spouse or relatives residing within Abuja. These sureties were required to demonstrate proven means of livelihood and submit their passport photographs to the court. Additionally, Okoli was instructed to surrender her passport to the court’s chief registrar.
The trial was adjourned until June 13, with defense lawyer Inibehe Effiong commending the judge’s decision to grant bail on what he termed “very liberal terms.”
Okoli’s husband, Chizoba Okoli, spoke to reporters, detailing his wife’s ordeal, which he described as emotionally traumatic and resulting in a miscarriage. He criticized the police and Erisco Foods Limited for their handling of the situation, alleging repeated harassment and incarceration of his wife.
In a post on X, Inibehe Effiong, Okoli’s lawyer, said his client suffered a miscarriage, adding that he made the disclosure to the court during proceedings on Tuesday.
“Prior to yesterday, we decided to keep this information private and to only disclose it in the court,” the post reads. “I am only stating this here due to the fact that the Court is already aware of it and many people are asking for confirmation.”
The case has sparked widespread condemnation and drawn support from women’s rights activists, who attended Friday’s hearing in solidarity with Okoli.
In September 2023, Chioma Okoli was arrested by the police after posting a review on her Facebook page, claiming that a tomato paste she purchased tasted sugary. The product in question, Nagiko tomato mix, is manufactured by Erisco Foods Limited.
Okoli’s post, made under the name Chioma Egodi Jnr, recounted her unsuccessful search for other brands and her disappointment with the taste of the Erisco product. Following a complaint from Erisco Foods Limited, Okoli was apprehended in Lagos and transported to Abuja for questioning.
Erisco Foods Limited refuted Okoli’s claims, asserting that its products were of high quality and emphasizing the company’s commitment to producing healthy, locally-made tomato products for the Nigerian and African markets.
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