Lawyer Raises Alarm Over Armed Policemen Laying Siege to Okoli's Home Over Erisco Tomato Review Against Court Orders
More than seven hours after invading Chioma Edoka Okoli's house over her honest Erisco Tomato review on Facebook, highlighting the high sugar content in the tomato paste and inviting her followers who might have used the same product to share their opinions, armed cops purportedly deployed by Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, have persisted in laying siege to her home.
The said review read:
“I went to buy tin tomatoes yesterday that I will use to make stew. I didn’t see Gino and Sonia, so I decided to buy this one (Nagiko). When I opened it omo! I decided to taste it. Sugar is just too much. Haa biko (please) let me know if you have used this tin tomato before because this is an ike gwuru (tiring) situation.”
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong said on Tuesday that the armed cops had requested more officers and were now waiting for instructions from the IGP before breaking into her house in Sangotedo, Ajah, and re-arresting her.
Okoli currently lives with her baby. She had earlier been detained in September, 2023, after which her home was raided by cops acting on what reports say were instructions from the Inspector-General of Police.
The Abuja police team have claimed to be following the Inspector General of Police's directives to re-arrest Okoli, but have failed to provide the court order that permits them to do so.
According to reports by SaharaReporters, Inibehe said that, "They have not produced any court order authorizing them to re-arrest Chioma." This was in reference to the ongoing siege.
“This is the result of years of lawlessness and impunity in the country."
“The IGP has overruled the order made on November 8, 2023 by Hon. Justice Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos that my client must not be re-arrested or detained except on the express order of a court of competent jurisdiction if she is served with a summons and she fails to appear in court."
“They have not served Chioma with any summons or charge. They secretly filed a charge against her at the Federal High Court in Abuja (instead of Lagos where the case arose) which pending before Hon. Justice A. R. Mohammed."
“When the case in Abuja came up on 7th December, 2023, the police told the court that they were unable to serve her with the charge (this is a lie because she was never in hiding and no attempt was made to serve her)."
“The police counsel then applied for adjournment to enable them file a motion to get leave (permission) to serve Chioma with the charge by substituted means. The case was adjourned to tomorrow 10th January, 2024 for the said motion."
“Justice Mohammed did not make any order for the arrest of Chioma. Indeed, the court said the issue of arrest warrant does not arise since the Defendant had not been served with the charge."
“Instead of going back to court to get the leave to serve her with the charge, the IGP ordered his men this morning to raid the house of my client and forcefully arrest her without a court order.”
“How can the police file a charge in court and still disregard the orders of the same court? “Is the IGP working for @EriscoFoodsLtd and Chief Eric Umeofia?” the attorney inquired.
“The policemen in large numbers are still laying siege on the house. The head of the team told me pointedly that he can’t obey a court order when the IGP has given him a contrary directive. He said the PSO to the IGP called him directly. Is Nigeria a banana republic?” he also asked.