Police Arrest Woman for Criticising Erisco Tomato Paste

Police authorities in Abuja have arrested one Chioma Okoli for criticising a tomato paste that she claimed was sugary.

About two weeks ago, the woman, whose Facebook name is Chioma Egodi Jnr, claimed she had gone to the market on 16 September with the intention of buying Gino or Sonia brand of tomato paste but could not find them.

She said she later bought the Nagiko tomato mix which she had planned to use in making stew.

“When I opened it, I decided to taste it, Omo! Sugar is just too much!” she wrote.

Erisco Foods Limited described as “untrue and unfounded”, that its paste tastes sugary.

In a statement issued by its management, the company said it was built on the vision and mission to manufacture and promote healthy and wholly made-in-Nigeria tomato products with a commitment to feed Africa, including Nigeria.

“Our initial reaction was to ignore and disregard the post which was obviously intended to mislead our esteemed customers and discredit the image of Erisco Foods Limited,” the company said in a statement.

It claimed that similar posts were previously instigated by “some elements and syndicates” uncomfortable with the company’s “market dominance”.

“Considering, however, that Erisco Foods Limited has built a reputation as a credible organisation committed to due process and the good of humanity, we have decided to bring the said publication to the attention of relevant authorities,” the statement added.

The company vowed that it would take “all necessary actions against any malicious attack” on its reputation.

Days later, the Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Babatunde Iruka confirmed that the lady had been arrested over the comment.

“UPDATE: @fccpcnigeria operatives have confirmed the arrest & transfer of the case to Abuja by the Police Force,” the FCCPC boss wrote on his X account Monday.

“She was no longer at the station on arrival. Working to determine the exact current location & engaging Force HQ in Abuja.

While the company had denied the woman’s claim and dismissed it as untrue, the FCCPC, said “summons are being issued” to the firm.

Mr Irukera, a lawyer, in a post via his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Monday, said FCCPC operatives confirmed to him that the suspect had been transferred to Force Headquarters in Abuja.

“She was no longer at the station on arrival. (I am) working to determine the exact current location and engaging Force Headquarters in Abuja,” he wrote on the microblogging site.