Facebook user, Chioma Okoli to face charges over Nagiko Tomato post on April 18

Justice Peter Lifu has scheduled April 18, 2024, as the date for the arraignment of Mrs. Chioma Okoli, a Facebook user facing charges over an alleged damaging review of Nagiko Tomato paste. The judge established this date following several unsuccessful attempts by lawyers from both sides to present separate applications in the case.

Okoli’s arraignment faced numerous delays due to the police’s inability to serve her with court documents after her arrest in September for purportedly making a damaging review of Nagiko’s tomato paste on her Facebook page. The police, following an investigation, filed a two-count charge against her before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.

During the recent court proceedings, the prosecution lawyer, Mr. Lukman Anthony, sought the court’s permission through an ex parte application to serve the charges on the defendant through substituted means, citing unsuccessful efforts to locate Okoli by the court’s bailiff. However, upon the court’s hint, Anthony withdrew the application.

In response, Okoli’s lawyer, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, contested the prosecution’s claim, asserting that Okoli independently obtained the charge from the police to demonstrate her willingness to stand trial. He brought the court’s attention to two applications filed by Okoli, challenging the arraignment’s jurisdiction and seeking bail depending on the outcome of the first application.

Despite opposition from Anthony to hear the jurisdiction application before arraignment, Effiong complied with the court’s indication and deferred the application, assuring that Okoli would be present in court on the next adjourned date.

In a brief ruling, Justice Lifu set the next court date for April 18, 2024, for the possible arraignment and hearing of pending motions.

The charges against Okoli stemmed from complaints by Erisco Foods Limited, Lagos, alleging that her Facebook post about Nagiko Tomato Paste was damaging. Okoli’s post on September 17, 2023, claimed that a tomato paste she purchased tasted sugary, prompting her to seek confirmation from other Facebook users about similar experiences with the product.