A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Chioma Okoli, a tomato paste reviewer, in the sum of N5 million with two sureties.
Okoli, who was arraigned on May 28, 2024, before Hon. Justice Peter Lifu, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and cyberstalking.
Justice Lifu’s ruling on the bail application, filed by Okoli’s lawyer Inibehe Effiong, mandates that one of the sureties must be her spouse or a blood relative residing in Abuja with verified means of livelihood.
Additionally, Okoli must deposit her passport with the court, if she possesses one. The judge emphasized that denying her bail would violate the presumption of innocence as outlined in Section 365 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, describing such denial as a wrongful application of discretion and tantamount to pre-trial judgment.
Okoli was initially remanded at Suleja Correctional Center following her arraignment. Her arrest in September 2023 stemmed from a negative review she posted on Facebook about Erisco Foods Limited’s Nagiko Tomato Mix, which she claimed contained excessive sugar.
The CEO of Erisco Foods Limited, Eric Omeofia, alleged that her review adversely impacted his business.
The case has been adjourned in court to June 13, 2024, for trial.
Okoli was arrested by the police in September 2023 with her lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, raising the alarm that the fundamental rights of his client were being breached by the police and Omeofia.
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The first count read, “That you Chioma Edoka Okoli also known as Chioma Egodi Jnr, Happiness Obas now at large And Don Kashking now at large ‘m’ of on or about sometime in the month of September 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourself and intentionally sent a message by means of computer and social media network such as Facebook, by using your Facebook handle by name Chioma Egodi Jnr, with the intention of instigating people against Erisco Foods Limited, knowing the said information to be false and with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, the management, and members of the family, thereby committed an offense contrary and punishable under Section 27 (1) (B) Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.
The second count stated, “That you Chioma Edoka Okoli also known as Chioma Egodi Jnr, Happiness Obas now at large and Don Kashking now at large ‘m’ of on or about sometime in the month of September, 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court intentionally send a message by means of computer and social media network such as Facebook, by using your Facebook handle by name Chioma Egodi Jnr, with the intention of instigating Erisco Foods Limited, knowing the said information to be false and with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, the management, and members of the family, and thereby committed an offense contrary and punishable under Section 24 (1) (B) Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.”
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