Erisco Product Reviewer Fights Back, Threatens 500m Suit
By Bliss Okperan
A lady who reviewed a product of Erisco Foods Limited, Nagiko Tomato Mix, Mrs Chioma Egodi, has threatened to demand the sum of N500 million from the chief executive of the company, Mr Eric Umeofia, for violating her fundamental human rights.
Mrs Egodi said she purchased the product at the market with the intention of using it to cook stew for her family. However, when she tasted it, according to her, it tasted too much sugar, prompting her to post about it on Facebook.
It was reported that Erisco was not happy with the negative review. She was arrested by police in Lagos and taken to Abuja, where she reportedly wrote a letter of apology.
On Thursday, Mr Umeofia claimed he involved the police in the matter because he suspected she was being used to destroy his business, fuming that he would use her to teach others lessons.
He, thereafter, threatened to sue the product reviewer for N5 billion if she failed to post the apology letter on social media because he had lost about $15 million from China.
Reacting to this on Friday on Arise TV, the counsel to Mrs Egodi, Mr Inibehe Effiong, said he would drag the Erisco chief to court, arguing that his client was made to write and sign the apology under duress.
“The man claimed that my client accused him of his product killing people. That is an irresponsible lie. She never said that,” the human rights lawyer said on Global Business Report monitored by Business Post.
“How can he come on Air and lie that my client accused him that his product was killing people? The word killing was not even used in the comment,” Mr Effiong submitted.
Also appearing on the show was Mrs Egodi’s husband, Mr Chizoba Okoli, who said his wife had been threatened over the matter.
Mr Okoli said his wife has been traumatised by the way she has been treated, stating that, “She tried to get an opinion from probably people who have used the tomato to know if that is how the tomato is or whether she brought the wrong one or something like that.
“It was just about asking a question and seeking an opinion from her followers.”
He narrated that his wife was picked up in his presence by securities operatives who claimed to be from the Ogudu Police Station in Lagos.
According to him, the arrest was carried out around the premises of St Andrew Catholic Church, where Mrs Egodi had gone to give talks on importation and exportation, her field of expertise.
