A human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has challenged Erisco Foods owner in an ongoing legal tussle between the owner, Eric Umeofia and a reviewer Chioma Okoli.
The lawyer, on Sunday via his verified X handle, challenged Umeofia to share the list of Nigerians killed by an alleged tomato paste cabal or tomato paste importers as claimed by him (Umeofia).
According to Effiong, Umeofia had made a claim that “tomato paste dealers were killing Nigerians” in March 2015, and repeated in July 2016.
Sharing the alleged posts of the claims, Effiong wrote, “He said this in March 2015 and repeated the claim in July 2016. They’re yet to share the list of Nigerians killed by tomato paste cabal or tomato paste importers.History will vindicate the just.”
The Challenge is following an ongoing campaign by Nigerians to boycott Erisco products over the company’s continued persecution of a reviewer, Chioma Okoli.
Okoli had stirred a controversy by posting a negative review of Erisco Tomato Paste on a social media platform.
Reacting to the negative review, the Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods had also threatened to slam Okoli with a N5 billion lawsuit.
The ongoing tussle and the continual hostility and persecution of Okoli by Umeofia despite confirming her apologies had sparked outrage by Nigerians who believed that consumer rights is being threatened.
However, Effiong said the Inspector General of Police has filed a “cybercrime” charge against Chioma, adding that were undeterred by intimidation because their commitment to the quest for justice is unwavering.
“For emphasis, our determination to seek justice is unshakable. No degree of boasting, arrogance or intimidation will make us give up. We are not going to yield to threats. Those advising us to beg should stop wasting their energy,” he added.
