By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of Erisco Foods, Mr Eric Umeofia, has vowed to ensure a reviewer of one of his company’s products, Mrs Chioma Okoli, is sent to prison or pay for “tarnishing” the image of his firm.
The businessman said this in an interview with Arise Television, during a documentary on the ongoing brouhaha between his organisation and Mrs Okoli.
The woman had posted on her Facebook page about the sugar content in Erisco Tomato Mix and the company was not okay with her approach to the product review.
“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 is just too much! Haa, biko, let me know if you have used this tin tomato before because this is an ike gwuru situation!” she had posted.
Her review attracted comments and some days later, some officials of the Nigeria Police Force picked her up in the Ogudu area of Lagos State and transferred her to Abuja.
In an interview with Arise TV in September 2023, which was monitored by Business Post, Mr Umeofia said he would sue the reviewer for N5 billion because he suspects she was paid by a syndicate to bring his company, as “she is not a customer” of the brand.
“I will sue her for N5 billion if she does not comply with what we said,” the founder of Erisco Foods declared, noting that Mrs Okoli could not provide proof to back up her claims when asked to do so.
He admitted that “sugar is allowed [in the product]. It’s just like taking soft drinks and complaining about sugar. If you don’t like it, buy another. People should go to her comment section to see how she liked posts that condemned Erisco and abused those who castigated her for her bad review.”
In the latest chat with the news platform, he said, “This company was established before Chioma was born. Forty years ago, I was suffering to establish this company, and because of the rants, we will allow her to close our company down.
“I would rather close Erisco Foods down and fight for my reputation, my brand, my good name before I die. I am stubborn with my rights and arrogant with my rights; [I have] no apology for it. I don’t look for trouble, but if you come for trouble, I am waiting for you.
“She has ruined my company and it is seven years imprisonment and N7 million. So, why must you go [scot-free] because you are a pregnant woman?
“In the prison, there is a space where you can cater for a child, there is a place for nursing mothers. If you think you can bully me to drop my case, I am not dropping it; I would rather die than allow somebody to tarnish my image I worked 40 years to grow.”
Mrs Okoli is being represented by the foremost human rights lawyer, Mr Inibehe Effiong, who has been urged to make efforts to settle the case out of court.
I think it is important for me to respond to those who have been pressuring me to advise Chioma Okoli to beg or settle with the chief executive of Erisco Foods to bring closure to the lingering matter.
