The Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled the trial of Chioma Okoli, who faces charges related to her online comments about Erisco Foods Limited’s tomato paste, to February 10, 2025.
Initially set for Wednesday, the hearing was postponed due to the Federal High Court’s New Legal Year event and the ongoing judges’ conference.
Justice Peter Lifu, who presided over the case, was unavailable, leading to the adjournment.
Okoli was first arraigned on May 28, 2023, on two charges under the Cybercrime Act of 2015. She pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following her arraignment, she spent a few days in a correctional facility before being granted bail on May 31. The court set her bail at ₦5 million, with two sureties.
The charges stem from a Facebook post made by Okoli on September 17, 2023. In her post, she stated that she purchased Erisco Foods’ Nagiko Tomato Mix and found it “utterly sugary.” She noted that she typically purchased Gino or Sonia tomato paste but opted for Nagiko due to the unavailability of her preferred brands. The post garnered significant attention online, prompting a response from Erisco Foods.
The company subsequently filed a petition with the Inspector-General of Police, leading to Okoli’s arrest. The police claimed that their preliminary investigation uncovered evidence of a violation of laws governing cyberspace use.
The controversy also led to a review of the Nagiko Tomato Mix product’s registration. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) confirmed that the product had undergone a regulatory inspection in 2021.
