Stung by the barrage of online bashing, boycott of products and negative publicity for Erisco Foods Ltd, the Nigeria Police have released Chioma Egodi who was arrested on the order of the food production company for her ‘honest’ opinion on one of its products, the Nagiko tin tomato paste.
OPPRESSED.@PIDOMNIGERIA, one of the leading proponents of the boycott movement for the company’s products, said on Tuesday evening: “I can confirm to you that Miss Chioma Egodi whom the company arrested over her harmless review of their Nagiko tin tomatoes on Facebook, has been released unconditionally today (26-09-2023).”
The boycott campaign had gained fraction on social media especially on X, formerly Twitter.
Apart from the nagiko brand, Erisco also produces and markets the Erisco tomato paste, season-cubes, milk-cubes, curry-powder and the garri-mix.
However, Nigerians led by 99% OPPRESSED.@PIDOMNIGERIA led a campaign to “BOYCOTT ALL ERISCO@EriscoFoodsLtd PRODUCTS!!!! #BoycottAllEriscoProducts.”
Calling her arrest “the height of impunity and tyranny,” @PIDOMNIGERIA lamented on the travails of Chioma Egodi, calling for justice and boycott of the company and its products.
Said his post: “To prove that they have the powers to make real their threat, they used the Nigerian police @PoliceNG to unjustly arrest her. She was taken to Ogudu Police Station, in Lagos State. @Princemoye1 @BenHundeyin.
“This is a new level of tyranny and impunity ordinary Nigerians have to suffer under this democracy in 2023. Manufacturing companies now misuse the @PoliceNG to arrest customers who complain about their products. Nigerians demand justice, and some explanation from @EriscoFoodsLtd. Injustice to one, is injustice to all. #BoycottAllEriscoProducts.”
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has tackled Erisco Foods Limited for arresting Chioma Blessing Edoka over her Facebook post, describing Erisco management as irresponsible and lambasted the Nigerian Police Force for being used as a tool to harass Nigerians.
The lawyer said, “The management of @EriscoFoodsLtd acted viciously and irresponsibly by instigating the police to arrest and detain a customer for her negative review of their product.
“A customer expressed her view on your tomatoes product, you decided to deploy the police to arrest her in Lagos and had her transferred to Force Headquarters in Abuja.
“There are certain things that happen in this country that can only be attributed to insanity. If you disagree with her review, a simple public statement would have sufficed. They could have reached out to her to understand her view and explain their position. That would have earned the company and the brand more patronage.
“But no, some people felt that force has to be the answer. What a silly way to resolve a simple matter. Arrogance is the issue here. I hope that they learn a hard lesson from this case.
“The police has refused to reform itself. The way any charlatan in this country can easily weaponise the police is upsetting. They keep criminalizing civil disputes. We cannot continue like this.”
Reacting on the arrest, Babatunde Irukera, Chief Executive Officer of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) confirmed that Erisco Foods had been summoned by his agency.
Irukera wrote: “UPDATE: @fccpcnigeria operatives have confirmed arrest & 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 are being issued to @EriscoFoodsLtd immediately.”
Chioma’s journey to Police detention began on September 17 when she took to Facebook after buying the product to give a review of what she discovered. According to her: “I went to buy tin tomatoes yesterday that I will use to make stew. I didn’t see Gino and Sonia.
“So, I decided to buy this one. When I opened it, I decided to taste it. Omo! Sugar was just too much. Haaa, Biko let me know if you have used this tin tomato before because this is an Ike gwuru situation.”
With comments from people, the company responded, tagging her claim “untrue and unfounded in its entirety” and was obviously intended to mislead “our esteemed customers and discredit the image of Erisco Foods Limited.”
Erisco then said her post was “instigated by some elements, and syndicates who are uncomfortable with our increasing market dominance as a leading indigenous manufacturer of tomato pastes.”
It stated: “However, having built our reputation on healthy and quality products which have earned us both local and international awards, including National Productivity Order of Merit Award, we will take all necessary actions against any malicious attack on our reputation.”
The company lodged a formal complaint against Chioma and she was arrested on September 24 and taken to Ogudu Police Station, in Lagos State before being hurriedly brought to Force Headquarters, Abuja for further interrogation.