₦airaland Forum

“FAKE LAWYER” CLAIM: INIBEHE EFFIONG TAKES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST CHIEF ERIC UMEOFIA, ERISCO FOODS FOR DEFAMATION

FALANA, SAN TO LEAD LEGAL TEAM

During his interview with Television Continental (TVC) on October 2, 2023, Chief Eric Umeofia, the President/CEO of Erisco Foods Limited while speaking on the ongoing case between Erisco Foods Limited and Mrs. Chioma Okoli, made a damaging, audacious and utterly libellous claim that my client dropped her previous lawyer who accompanied her to the Force Headquarters in Abuja and went to Lagos to hire “a fake lawyer, a charge and bail lawyer to deceive her.”

The video of the interview where the claims were made was advertised on the Facebook page on Erisco Foods Limited and viewed by a large number of people.

Chief Umeofia knew exactly who he was referring to since my engagement and representation of Chioma was already a matter of public knowledge.

My attention has repeatedly been drawn by my clients, colleagues, associates and members of the public to the malicious claims made against me by Umeofia. Those who have confronted me over these claims were taken aback by Umeofia’s bold assertion that they have been dealing with an imposter who has been falsely masquerading himself as a lawyer all these years.

These claims have caused me prolonged emotional stress and deep anxiety.

I have lost professional engagements and financial opportunities because of these claims.

I have practiced law in Nigeria for the past ten years; having been duly called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. My name is on the Roll of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria and can be easily verified.

Chief Umeofia’s claim that I am a fake lawyer who was out to deceive my client is dangerous and intended to destroy my career which I have laboured to build for a decade.

His claim that I am a charge and bail lawyer is also malicious and defamatory. The courts have ruled in previous cases that referring to any lawyer as “charge and bail” is defamatory and actionable.

Based on the foregoing, I have briefed my counsel, the foremost human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN to take legal action on my behalf against Eric Umeofia and Erisco Foods Limited over the said obnoxious and destructive claims.

In a demand letter served on Erisco Foods Limited on Monday, April 8, 2024, Falana SAN has demanded a written apology from the company and its CEO, which must be published in at least two national newspapers, a full retraction of the defamatory statements and the sum of N100 Million as damages which they must comply with within 14 days.

This is only the beginning of my legal actions against Umeofia and Erisco Foods.

Signed:
Inibehe Effiong.

Inibehe Effiong

As a business man, Erisco scored an own goal, should have just ignored that Chioma

Is it the tomato paste they said had sugar added to it?

I just hope this Chief Eric will not have this case turned against him. There should have been a better way to handle the case. Because the more people want to know about the case, the more the sugar in his tomato paste statement will spread.

This Erisco guy is just too loud and uncouth

fourboys:
As a business man, Erisco scored an own goal, should have just ignored that Chioma

Don't mind him. Taking bad character to your business will kill the business

Okwyjesus:
Don't mind him. Taking bad character to your business will kill the business

Chioma Okoli attacked Eric Umeofia, they will soon gather to accuse Yorubas of hate, and jealousy.

Erisco’s head office is in Oregun, Lagos State, not in Nnewi Anambra State.

fourboys:
As a business man, Erisco scored an own goal, should have just ignored that Chioma

Yinmu.

Quit the idleness and vain entertainment of the social media, go work hard to build a formidable business like Erisco foods first then when your sweat and hardwork comes under attack, let's see what you will do. Talk is cheap.

Erisco did the right thing by taking the lawful and legal route instead of taking the laws into his own hands, all these media escalation doesn't help the lady.

What her lawyer is alleging above is a civil case where her lawyer is demanding money while the client he claims to be defending is facing a serious criminal case. In my opinion, the strategy is incoherent and seems that he is not ready for reconciliation. I believe that it's only reconciliation and amicable resolution that can help that lady. I pray she comes to that reality soon enough.

May God bless Nigeria for ever! Check my signature for free stuffs!

Let us see how the supporters of Erisco foods will react to this

.

Nigerians about to learn a very good lesson in a business settings that is the customer is alway right

There is no way the bulling flaming uncivilised chief will come out on top .

What ever the court outcome most people will boycott the sugar laced tomato puree
Sugar is a killer thats no secret.

blacknp:
Chioma Okoli attacked Eric Umeofia, they will soon gather to accuse Yorubas of hate, and jealousy.

Erisco’s head office is in Oregun, Lagos State, not in Nnewi Anambra State.

So what is your point

FreeStuffsNG:
Yinmu.

Quit the idleness and vain entertainment of the social media, go work hard to build a formidable business like Erisco foods first then when your sweat and hardwork comes under attack, let's see what you will do. Talk is cheap.

He did the right thing by taking the legal route instead of taking the laws into his own hands, all these media escalation doesn't help the lady.

What her lawyer is alleging above is a civil case where her lawyer is demanding money while the client he claims to be defending is facing a serious criminal case. In my opinion, the strategy is incoherent. He is not ready for reconciliation. It's only reconciliation that can help that lady. I pray she comes to that reality soon enough.

May God bless Nigeria for ever! Check my signature for free stuffs!

Emergency lover of Igbo

Death to the pedophile prophet

I was actually looking for the place he mentioned anything close to your name as the fake lawyer.

G

This lawyer is the major problem of Chioma. The guy has always been looking for a case to shoot himself to limelight to attract customers.

Chioma apologised, but this lawyer retracted it, then see where we are now.
The guy want to be a celebrity lawyer. Listening to his arguments most times, this one will hardly win a case. I listened to how he was trying to defend chioma on Arise TV last year, I nodded my head. Nothing go come out for this guy matter concerning Chioma.

This case alone he involved Falana shows this guy mixed this matter with hatred and grudge. That's not quality of a lawyer.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander

Tit for tat.

This Erisco food matter na Reddit I see am ooo ..... This matter no wan die ..... If them too loud am Nigerian 🇳🇬 go begin take am catch cruze until the close the company ooo

As it should be

benuejosh:
Is it the tomato paste they said had sugar added to it?

I just hope this Chief Eric will not have this case turned against him. They should have been a better way to handle the case. Because the more people want to know about the case, the more the sugar in his tomato paste will spread.

Last month my wife drew my attention to the tomato which red colour painted stew pot that was highly unusual and difficult to wash away. Something is truly not right with that tomatoe brand but time will tell.

fourboys:
As a business man, Erisco scored an own goal, should have just ignored that Chioma

I said the same.. Erisco is no where as rich as elon Musk or Zuckerberg.. people have said worse about these and many individuals like bill gate and bezos.. any of the aforementioned guys can buy erisco foods just to put it out of business but they don't engage in fighting little guys..

There was a little guy that was tracking Elon Musks private jet movement and posting it online.. this even made him to sale that particular jet.

Elon Musk never sued the guy even though he's got the money to hire all the best lawyers in each state in the U.S but he didn't do it..

He knew the negative publicity won't go well with his empire..

Erisco made a big mistake.. I hope he realize that before it's top late for him.

Erisco has taken things too far. His advisors are doing terrible job

treatise:
Last month my wife drew my attention to the erisco tomato which red colour painted stew pot that was highly unusual and difficult to wash away. Something is truly not right with that tomatoe brand but time will tell.

you don start, I hope you're not keyboard warrior oo cos no prove of what you're saying incase you're picked up

Erisco would have handled this sugar tomato matter better than he is doing currently. He could have turned the bad publicity into a good one. After looking into the claim, chioma would have been invited to the company & made to promote the brand on social media. All these fights would not have happened.

On the issue of defamation, I believe he would not have liked it if someone referred to him as a fake business man. Ordinary review of his tomato paste he couldn’t handle.

blacknp:
Chioma Okoli attacked Eric Umeofia, they will soon gather to accuse Yorubas of hate, and jealousy.

Erisco’s head office is in Oregun, Lagos State, not in Nnewi Anambra State.

Shut up you bigot, another thing is been discussed here and here you are coming in with the same mindset that kept us where we are today,Ewu Hausa

FreeStuffsNG:
Yinmu.

Quit the idleness and vain entertainment of the social media, go work hard to build a formidable business like Erisco foods first then when your sweat and hardwork comes under attack, let's see what you will do. Talk is cheap.

Erisco did the right thing by taking the legal route instead of taking the laws into his own hands, all these media escalation doesn't help the lady.

What her lawyer is alleging above is a civil case where her lawyer is demanding money while the client he claims to be defending is facing a serious criminal case. In my opinion, the strategy is incoherent. He is not ready for reconciliation. It's only reconciliation that can help that lady. I pray she comes to that reality soon enough.

May God bless Nigeria for ever! Check my signature for free stuffs!

Your maturity supersedes that of Helinues and Seunmsg. Or maybe you are the three handles. You get brain to analyse public issues and to defend APshit sensibly.
To add N30K to ya initial N30K dey hungry me.
Chop kiss. 💋