The Nigeria Police, on Thursday, said that preliminary investigations conducted have unearthed compelling evidence indicting Mrs. Chioma Okoli’s alleged role in the violation of extant laws in the Erisco Tomato saga.
This is even as the force cautioned members of the public against spreading misinformation and attempting to manipulate public sentiment, adding that the law operates impartially and that any attempt to subvert it would be met with the full force of legal action.
The warning was issued by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, Force headquarters, Abuja.
Adejobi said the recent developments in the case were deeply worrisome, frowning particularly at the use of crowdfunding as a means to influence legal proceedings.
It will be recalled that Okoli had stirred controversy when she posted a negative review on Erisco tomato paste on a social media platform.
As a response, the Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods also threatened to slam Okoli with a N5 billion lawsuit over her negative review of the company’s tomato paste.
Recently, Umeofia vowed on national television that he would continue the prosecution of Okoli despite confirming her apologies.
Okoli has also been seen weeping profusely over the company’s suit against her in a trending video.
According to details shared by Okoli’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, the subsequent development saw the Inspector General of Police filing a “cybercrime” charge against Chioma.
Effiong disclosed that they appeared at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, February 29, 2024, to address the charge.
The saga took a different twist recently as Nigerians threatened to boycott Erisco Foods over the company.
However, the police have declared that crowdfunding as a means to influence legal proceedings undermined the integrity of the justice system and threatened the principles of fairness and accountability.
Adejobi stressed that the it was highly inimical to the existence of the rule of law, while reaffirming that the Nigeria Police was poised to enforce all laws without fear, favour.
“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.
“This case in point underscores the necessity of enforcing existing legislation, including the Cybercrime Act, to counteract the current spate of violations of the Act and spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media.
“It is vital to reaffirm that the Nigeria Police is poised to enforce all laws without fear, favour, or sentiments in its commitment to ensuring justice and transparency for all citizens.
“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,” the statement read.
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