Nigerian Tweeps ‘Boycott’ Erisco Foods Products Over Bullying, Intimidation Of Chioma Okoli Who Was Arrested Over Negative Review

Some Nigerian tweeps have threatened to boycott all Erisco Foods products for allegedly bullying and intimidating Mrs Chioma Okoli, a female customer who was arrested for giving the tomato product of the company a negative review.

Nigerian police last week asked Chioma Okoli to show up to allow justice to take its course in the matter involving her and Erisco Foods Limited.

SaharaReporters in January reported that policemen on the alleged orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, invaded the residence of Okoli in Lagos State.

SaharaReporters learnt that the team of policemen from Abuja who claimed to be acting on the orders of the Inspector General of Police moved to re-arrest Okoli without serving any court order authorising them to do so.

Also in January, Effiong disclosed that Okoli had received the sum of N1.9 million donation from Nigerians for legal fees.

ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer in a statement on Thursday, reaffirmed the commitment of the police to “upholding the rule of law in the Erisco Tomato matter”.

According to him, it is imperative to caution members of the public against spreading misinformation and attempting to manipulate public sentiments.

He said the recent developments in the case are deeply worrisome, particularly the use of crowdfunding as a means to influence legal proceedings, adding that such actions undermine the integrity of the justice system and threaten the principles of fairness and accountability as they are highly inimical to the existence of the rule of law.

Adejobi admonished Nigerians, most especially social media influencers, to resort to embracing the rule of law, and shun all displays of sentiments in the case.

However, SaharaReporters learnt last week that the police had not served Chioma Okoli yet.

Speaking with SaharaReporters, Chioma Okoli's lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said, "The Force PRO in his statement stated among others things thus: ‘We therefore advise the suspect to cease the continual jumping bail and turn up in court.’

"However, this document is the certified true copy of the record of proceedings of the first day that this case came up at the Federal High Court in Abuja on 7th December, 2023.

"You can see from this document that I was in court and I represented Chioma. I appeared in protest on that day because she had not been served. I had to withdraw my appearance because she was not served.

"The police were represented by their lawyer, M. L. Anthony, who admitted in the open court as you can see from the record that they were yet to serve Chioma with the charge. As you can see from the record, it was Mr. Anthony who pleaded for an adjournment to enable them to do the needful; that is to enable them to serve Chioma with the charge.”

Meanwhile, social media users in Nigeria have expressed anger at the treatment of Chioma Okoli by the police and the company.

For instance, Shehu Gazali Sadiq (@Shehusky) tweeted, "I boycotted Erisco Food since last year that the brand started oppressing Chioma for some product review. I cannot continue to patronize a monster with this face. I don’t know why you still buy the watery and sugary tomato paste. #BoycottEriscoFoods.”

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Also @Morris_Monye tweeted, "If Nigerians did not tackle this Erisco issue like this, other organizations won’t learn. All organizations will now be careful before oppressing any Nigerian.

"When you use a bazooka to kill a fly in your house, you will most likely destroy your house in the process.”

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Also @itspauldaniels tweeted, "Very true. Nigerians should be very far from Erisco food because it means even if what you buy is po!son you can’t speak."

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Tiaraoluwa (@TheOluwabukunmi) wrote, "This Erisco situation is so ridiculous. They’re willing to do everything and anything except that which will actually work; apologise to Chioma and withdraw their unnecessary suit. It’s giving ‘he who the gods want to destroy, they first make mad.’”

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@General_Oluchi, "Now that Erisco has hired a professional image cleaner to handle this issue, let me use this opportunity to advise Osigwe and his team that, my mess is not cleanable. It stinks like a skunk and I won’t get tired. I was not paid or hired, never have been, so money is not my motivation.

"I will only step away from spearheading a boycott only if Erisco withdraws his case, apologizes and pays Chioma for damages and tell his friends at the police to back the f*** off."

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A.C. Harrison (@Harriseen_) tweeted, "@General_Oluchi e be like your bro Erisco dey into Oil and Gas too! E be like dem dey run fake fire extinguishers too o!

"@EriscoOfficial Let Chioma gooooo oooo.”

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Wemimo Adewuni (@wemimospot) said, “#istandwithChiomaOkoli and I will be boycotting EVERY item that comes from Erisco Foods!

"Such bold faced tyranny will not be supported!

"I loooooove how @sisiogelagos asked this question: "WHO DIED AND MADE YOU GOD, ERIC."

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@General_Oluchi tweeted: "The same man whose wife swore he’s the best thing to happen to her is telling us that there are prison rooms for pregnant women and Chioma can stay there if she likes!

"For those who keep saying that I’m trying to render his 3k employees jobless, here’s your boss saying he’d rather close down his business than let Chioma go! He is the one already making arrangements to fire you people, so you better start looking for jobs elsewhere!

“I would rather die; I would rather close down Erisco Foods to fight for my right!”

https://saharareporters.com/2024/03/10/nigerian-tweeps-boycott-erisco-foods-products-over-bullying-intimidation-chioma-okoli

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More.

Not all big men have good advisers, he fell Into the girl's plan now let him suffer it .

Over Sabi man claiming king , executioner and jury.

If he had not used the useless Nigerian jollof force called police to go after that girl , she will talk and talk without audience .

Same thing the dead jihadist did to nnamdi and igboho

Noise making as usual

Bunch of headless mob as usual. I remember them crying to boycott Toyin Abraham's movie at the end of the day, their boycott works in her favour...

May their new cry favour Erisco Foods

Mrs Chioma Okoli should as matter of urgency, make another tweet/ video, apologize to Erisco Foods, let them know your intention of making the video is not to spoil their market. I believe by doing so the company may consider dropping their charges against her.

madridguy:
Noise making as usual

Bro, forget politics and side humanity for once.

You should also forget sentiment and be honest with yourself. Will you be happy someone go online, make videos to spoil your brand?

NLCreator:


Bro, forget politics and side humanity for once.

madridguy:
Noise making as usual

says someone who have never done business and knows nothing about investment other than supporting failures.
Reviews and comments are normal from customers ,not the same with politics where criminals are defended by paid jobbers.
Why the arrest and intimidations.

Accepted, I know nothing about investment but I wasn't raised to spoil another man's investment with my tongue just like Chioma and the brainless people supporting her.

ibrahimsalam:
says someone who have never done business and knows nothing about investment other than supporting failures.

madridguy:
Accepted, I know nothing about investment but I wasn't raised to spoil another man's investment with my tongue just like Chioma and the brainless people supporting her.

her reviews was for him to make corrections and not spoiling it.

madridguy:
Accepted, I know nothing about investment but I wasn't raised to spoil another man's investment with my tongue just like Chioma and the brainless people supporting her.

erisco did so to other fake tomatoes importers ,so why acting god when others complain

Had been she did her complain in a civil manner I am sure no one will come for her. Let her openly apologize to Erisco Foods so she can have her freedom.

ibrahimsalam:
erisco did so to other fake tomatoes importers ,so why acting god when others complain

madridguy:
You should also forget sentiment and be honest with yourself. Will you be happy someone go online, make videos to spoil your brand?

Which product do you know of that has never been reviewed negatively? How is it a crime? So, bullying and intimidating negative reviewers are the best way to respond, right? No one is stopping him from going to court, but he should play fair.

By the way, the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has declared Chioma didn't violate any known extant law.

Section 24(1) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015 Eric and the police are relying on has been declared as vague, arbitrary, unlawful by ECOWAS Court.

Also, Indomie didn't respond by arresting critics during the "killer indomie" crisis. Rather, the CEO had to go through the stress to eat his product live to prove it's safe.

Your Eric can learn one or two from this.

NLCreator:


Which product do you know of that has never been reviewed negatively? How is it a crime? So, bullying and intimidating negative reviewers are the best way to respond, right? No one is stopping him from going to court, but he should play fair.

By the way, the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has declared Chioma didn't violate any known extant law.

Section 24(1) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015 Eric and the police are relying on has been declared as vague, arbitrary, unlawful by ECOWAS Court.

Also, Indomie didn't respond by arresting critics during the "killer indomie" crisis. Rather, the CEO had to go through the stress to eat his product live to prove it's safe.

Your Eric can learn one or two from this.

good response and indomie is still doing well today.
These bots believe everything is politics where they defend every known criminality.

Stop using Indomie as an example here because Indomie then was just a rumor flying around. No one particularly go online or make a video to call Indomie " killer indomie ". Same thing happened to 7up and its all rumours.

Chioma should publicly apologize to Erisco Foods as no amount of online influencers will rescue her.

NLCreator:


Which product do you know of that has never been reviewed negatively? How is it a crime? So, bullying and intimidating negative reviewers are the best way to respond, right? No one is stopping him from going to court, but he should play fair.

By the way, the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has declared Chioma didn't violate any known extant law.

Section 24(1) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015 Eric and the police are relying on has been declared as vague, arbitrary, unlawful by ECOWAS Court.

Also, Indomie didn't respond by arresting critics during the "killer indomie" crisis. Rather, the CEO had to go through the stress to eat his product live to prove it's safe.

Your Eric can learn one or two from this.

madridguy:
Noise making as usual

Bunch of headless mob as usual. I remember them crying to boycott Toyin Abraham's movie at the end of the day, their boycott works in her favour...

May their new cry favour Erisco Foods

Mrs Chioma Okoli should as matter of urgency, make another video, apologize to Erisco Foods, let them know your intention of making the video is not to spoil their market. I believe by doing so the company may consider dropping their charges against her.

I doubt everything is ok with your head...men you're not living life.

Everything is politics and tribalism to you. It won't end well for you the way you're going

Stop acting like a kid..I dare you to provide us video of a single person that openly called out indomie back then.... We cannot be spoiling peoples business and also be complaining of lack of employment... Stop chasing investors away with your online bullying you call review.

ibrahimsalam:
good response and indomie is still doing well today.
These bots believe everything is politics where they defend every known criminality.

Who still patronises any rubbish produced by the so-called Erisco Foods? Very useless company with that fat faced fuucktard that calls himself the CEO.

I hate small minded bullies. Because one insignificant person gave a bad review of your commercial product, you think you should use corrupt institutions of government to oppress, traumatise and persecute her. God punish you and your company.

Arrogant bastard. Would anybody remember her so-called review by now if you had simply ignored it? Common sense is not so common.

Left to me, that company would fold up because nobody should patronise its worthless products.

The insults are for your uncles at home.

Meanwhile, both Chioma Okoli and
The founder and President of Erisco Foods Limited, Eris Umeofia are both Igbos. I have nothing against Chioma Okoli but let her apologize to Erisco Foods.

Cindypresh:


I doubt everything is ok with your head...men you're not living life.

Everything is politics and tribalism to you. It won't end well for you the way you're going

madridguy:
The insults is for your uncles at home.

Meanwhile, both Chioma Okoli and
The founder and President of Erisco Foods Limited, Eris Umeofia are both Igbos. I have nothing against Chioma Okoli but let her apologize to Erisco Foods.

It is not an insult, it's a true reality of your bigoted life...it has no meaning.

You're making it tribal because you think those supporting her are Igbos abi and you want to get sympathy from your fellow bigots?? Should we arrest you for all your insults, propaganda and defamation against Obedients and Peter Obi ??

How old are you again? Is Erisco Foods a political party / aspirants or candidate ?
We are only attacking Obi same way Obi rodents are attacking BAT too. Did you see any APC member that goes online or physically to attack Obi's company? Saying bad things about the company?

Cindypresh:


It is not an insult, it's a true reality of your bigoted life...it has no meaning.

You're making it tribal because you think those supporting her are Igbos abi and you want to get sympathy from your fellow bigots?? Should we arrest you for all your insults, propaganda and defamation against Obedients and Peter Obi ??

madridguy:
Stop acting like a kid..I dare you to provide us video of a single person that openly called out indomie back then.... We cannot be spoiling peoples business and also be complaining of lack of employment... Stop chasing investors away with your online bullying you call review.

just take your lazy self to Google and search how indomie was criticize and defended itself.
This is not politics where you go on defending failures and criminals as ordered on WhatsApp groups.

Can you all see the power of detribalism? Hausa, yoruba and igbo are clamouring for her release not considering where she comes for. We wouldnt have been enmeshed in this economic hardship if we were this connected at the polls.

I need not to google anything. Just paste a video just like Chioma's video against Erisco that anyone did against Indomie.

ibrahimsalam:
just take your lazy self to Google and search how indomie was criticize and defended itself.
This is not politics where you go on defending failures and criminals as ordered on WhatsApp groups.

madridguy:
I need not to google anything. Just paste a video just like Chioma's video against Erisco that anyone did against Indomie.

So only a video can be used as evidence? Written words don't matter?

You no get point at all.

The problem with Nigeria. Would such a scenario ever play out in civilized societies? Where is freedom of speech? What about consumer protection?
Thank God for the arrogance of tin gods because pride goes before a fall. People like us who never read the controversial review will now know what product to avoid. Continue.

this man is seriously dumb
the lady actually gave him an opportunity to sell himself and the product but he messed it all up with stupid pride and arrogance.

food don done for erisco. It was only a matter of time before this happened. How many people you wan arrest? If he is not careful, abroadians will carry the matter on their head. He has a point when he told her to apologise but the way he has gone about it shows that he needs more training to be a CEO. He has done more damage to Erisco than his enemies can do. Ever since I knew of Erisco it has always been one cry or the other. I remember how they were always in newspaper adverts back in the days. Crying that people are after them and want to chase them out of Nigeria. Erisco has always had a victim mentality before this case happened. That is the impression I had about them. They want Nigerians to use Nigerian products but going about it the wrong way. People like the underdog and him threatening her with connections will only make people side her. Again she is a mother, women will cry and attract sympathy. If he is looking to learn, let him ask Indomie how they survived several years of damage. There was a time people spread rumors that a competitor was behind the campaign to tarnish their brand when Dora was at NAFDAC. They said Indomie made people die and that rumour affected Indomie because one young man just died. There was no social media then and press was more effective because what they report is true. Indomie still bounced back after some hard time. Time will eventually reveal the truth but you have to be smart about it. You can't force your products down our throats abi na only you wan chop am. It is bad for your brand to always be involved in controversies.

Document Show Erisco Foods’ Claim On Forex Untrue, October 9, 2016
https://www.icirnigeria.org/document-show-erisco-foods-claim-on-forex-untrue/

Erisco Foods Quits Nigeria, Heads For Kenya, Three Others - Business - Nairaland
https://www.nairaland.com/3449812/erisco-foods-quits-nigeria-heads



Erisco Boss, Eric Umeofia, at war with CBN
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/11/04/erisco-boss-eric-umeofia-at-war-with-cbn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_MXa5IAaic?feature=shared

Don't forget you too have accused government, fake importers and every other person of being against you. They could have used this Chioma review to sell their puree and paste but instead, you made her popular. Erisco suspects that the lady is sponsored but if you want to be great, you must have a plan to deal with these kind of people. How many times has Facebook been called but people are still using it. Even America's enemies are using it. The marketing department could have used her video to make a new campaign but when I watched the CEO on TV, it screams one man who is insecure.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLfxFUbBhn4?feature=shared


He already screams connection to powers that be and the removal of the FCCPC Chairman is already being linked to him.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5Nw5XAfRoc?feature=shared

Now you are giving your competitors more power to bring you down with this unnecessary campaign because you want to teach her a lesson.

If that company really did that, then it must go down! This can only happen in Nigeria, even big companies in the US would think twice before commiting such a blunder!

madridguy:
I need not to google anything. Just paste a video just like Chioma's video against Erisco that anyone did against Indomie.

I'm sure you will attack me withe the usual "I don't care" however it is high time you take a break and go through some of your comments. From some of your comments I come across, you say your mind and make a little sense unlike @yarimo that I've known since I was a teenager and a guest in this forum.

But I digress, this was a perfect opportunity for the company to sell more of their products; every coolheaded businessman would know this. The first time I saw that screenshot of her criticizing the company, it had very few reactions but when the company arrested her, it blew up!

Sometimes, it's not everybody that every publicity works for, for a company that specializes on foods, this negative publicity will badly affect their sales.

This lady might have been wrong but this could have been handled better way because looking at this, one can tell the company is obviously doing exactly what corrupt powerful people do — get drunk with power while stepping on their adversaries and the poor.

Let us join hands and kill this company once and for all.

I hate seeing women being maltreated.

Go to bank apps and see how people review products that are bad and those organisations would only beg and ask that u give them time to amend.

But this foolish man thinks he can win...it is now him vs Nigerians.

I am now conscious of what I buy going forward.

Even Nigeria police is gradually becoming anti people. Are they not meant to protect the interest of the people?
Why should customer review of a product even become a police affair in the first place?
This shows how jobless our police men have become lately.