2024-03-28 07:10:00
Chioma Okoli was arrested and charged after posting on social media about canned tomatoes.
2024.03.28 Thu posted at 16:10 JST
Abuja, Nigeria (CNN) A woman in Nigeria, West Africa, has been arrested and charged with violating cybercrime laws after soliciting comments on canned tomato puree on social media. The maker of her canned goods has filed a civil lawsuit alleging damages caused by the woman’s “malicious claims.”
The woman in the mix is Chioma Okoli, 39, an entrepreneur living in Lagos. Local residents have staged protests against Okoli, accusing her of persecution for exercising her right to free speech.
On September 17 last year, Okoli, who imports children’s clothing, solicited opinions on tomato puree through his Facebook account, which is followed by 18,000 people. The canned food was made by Elisco Foods, a local food manufacturer different from the one Okoli usually uses, and he found it too sweet.
When we asked for opinions by attaching photos of opened cans, we received a variety of comments. One of them wrote, “Don’t talk bad about my brother’s product. If you don’t like it, don’t bring it up on social media, use something else, or call customer service.”
Okoli replied: “Please help me advise your brother to stop ki***ing people with his product. I used it for the first time yesterday and it was pure sugar.”
A week later, on September 24, Okoli was arrested.
Nigerian police said Okoli used his Facebook account “for the purpose of inciting people against Elisco Foods.” On March 7, it was announced that “strong evidence” against Okoli had been found as a result of the investigation.
According to the police, Okoli is charged with violating Article 24 of the Cyber Crimes Prohibition Act for “inciting incitement against Elisco Foods despite knowing that the information was false.”
If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to three years in prison, a fine of 7 million naira (about 750,000 yen), or both.
Separately, he was also charged with violating Article 27 of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act for conspiring with two others “for the purpose of inciting people against Elisco Foods,” and if convicted, he faces seven years in prison. may be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 20 years.
Okoli is also facing a civil lawsuit from Elisco. The company released a statement on January 19, claiming that several suppliers have terminated their contracts because of Okoli’s comments. In the lawsuit, the company is demanding 5 billion naira in damages for “losing multiple lines of credit.”
demand for official apology
Okoli, who is pregnant with her fourth child, was arrested by plainclothes police at a church in Lagos and taken into custody.
“(September 24) I was taken to the detention center around 6pm. There were no chairs, so I had to stand until the next day. Both my feet were submerged in water (due to a leak from the roof). “I did a few squats to relieve the pressure. I thought about my children at home.” Okoli recalls.
The next day, he was taken by plane to the capital, Abuja, and detained at a police station. He was released on bail the next day.
Okoli said that a condition of his release on bail was for him to make a formal apology to Elisco, but his lawyer says he has not apologized since being released on bail because the apology was under duress.
Okoli was charged in an Abuja court and his first hearing was held on December 7, but he did not appear in court.
Countersuit against police and food company
In October last year, Okoli filed a lawsuit in a Lagos court against Elisco and the police, seeking 500 million naira in damages. They allege that the arrest and detention violates the constitutional rights to individual freedom, freedom of movement, and freedom of speech. The next hearing is scheduled for April 18th.
A protest movement erupted in front of Elisco’s facility in Lagos, and calls for a boycott of the protests are spreading on social media.
In a documentary on a local TV station, Elisco’s founder asserted that he had no intention of dropping the lawsuit against Okoli. He emphasized, “I’d rather die than have someone tarnish the image I’ve spent 40 years perfecting.”
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