The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has remanded Mrs. Chioma Egodi to the Suleja Correctional Center until Friday, following allegations related to her online comments about Erisco Foods Limited’s tomato paste, which the police claim violate the Cybercrime Act of 2015.
Appearing before Justice P. Lifu on Tuesday, Mrs. Egodi faced charges of cybercrime brought by the Inspector General of Police. Despite her plea of not guilty, Justice Lifu ruled for her remand until a decision on her bail application is made on Friday.
The prosecution argued against bail, citing Mrs. Egodi’s past non-compliance with administrative bail terms and the perceived flight risk. Conversely, the defense emphasized her health issues, providing medical evidence of the psychological toll the case has taken, including a reported miscarriage.
Unable to immediately decide on bail, Justice Lifu ordered Mrs. Egodi’s continued detention until Friday. The trial is scheduled to resume on June 13.
This legal proceeding stems from Mrs. Egodi’s social media post on September 17, 2023, where she expressed dissatisfaction with the sweetness of Nagiko Tomato Mix from Erisco Foods, noting her usual preference for Gino or Sonia brands, which were unavailable. The post sparked significant attention, prompting Erisco Foods’ management to file a complaint with Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, leading to an investigation into the product’s registration status by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
