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Erisco Foods trial: Police withdraw “evidence” against Chioma Okoli

Published

1 month ago

October 30, 2025

Eric Umeofia, Chioma Okoli

Erisco Foods trial: Police withdraw “evidence” against Chioma Okoli

There was a dramatic twist at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, as the Nigeria Police Force failed to present admissible evidence against Mrs. Chioma Edoka Okoli, a Nigerian mother facing cyberstalking charges over her social media review of Nagiko Tomato Mix, a product manufactured by Erisco Foods Limited.

The case, filed in 2023 by the Inspector-General of Police, came up before Justice Peter Lifu, who once again urged both parties to consider an out-of-court settlement in line with Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act.

Justice Lifu stated that he was “only acting as the conscience of the nation” by encouraging alternative dispute resolution but affirmed readiness to proceed with full hearing if settlement efforts failed.

Police counsel, A. S. Uguwanyi, told the court that it was the defendant’s responsibility to initiate settlement. However, Erisco Foods’ representative, Mr. Nnamdi Nwokolo, who also serves as Personal Assistant on Operations to the company’s CEO, Chief Eric Umeofia, said the company would only consider withdrawing the case if the defendant issued another apology.

Lead defence counsel and human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, countered the position, informing the court that several prominent Nigerians had intervened in efforts to resolve the matter, but Erisco Foods had rejected all peaceful overtures.

Effiong added that the case had persisted because the CEO of Erisco Foods had publicly vowed not to abandon the matter, even declaring on national television that he would rather die than drop the charges.

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Following submissions from both sides, Justice Lifu directed Nwokolo, the first prosecution witness, to take the stand.

In his testimony, Nwokolo said he was alerted in September 2023 to Chioma’s Facebook post, which criticised the sugar content in Nagiko Tomato Mix. He said the post went viral and triggered protests by women’s groups and a nationwide boycott campaign against the company.

He added that Erisco’s Chinese suppliers expressed concern over the backlash, and that the company’s fortunes had suffered irreparable damage.

The prosecution attempted to tender several documents, including the petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Chioma’s Facebook post, emails from Chinese partners, a NAFDAC publication, protest photographs, a demand notice, and a letter of apology allegedly written by the defendant.

Effiong objected, citing Sections 84 and 104 of the Evidence Act, 2011, and argued that the documents were either electronically generated without proper certification or public documents not duly certified. He referenced the case of Kubur v. Dickson (2013) to support his argument.

He further noted that the certificate of compliance submitted by the police lacked relevant details and that the documents were certified by a former prosecutor who did not have custody of the originals. He pointed out that none of the documents bore the seal of the Inspector-General of Police or any police department, and that the prosecutor merely wrote “certified true copy” by hand.

Faced with the objections, the police prosecutor withdrew all the documents and requested an adjournment to reorganise his case. Effiong opposed the request, arguing that no cogent reason had been provided and asked the court to award ₦500,000 in costs for wasting the defence’s time.

Justice Lifu agreed that the prosecution had wasted the court’s time and noted the absence of a substantial reason for adjournment. The police counsel, appearing overwhelmed, opted to close the evidence-in-chief of the first witness without tendering any document.

Effiong did not object and expressed readiness to proceed with cross-examination.

Justice Lifu adjourned the matter to January 21 and 22, 2026, for cross-examination and directed the police to ensure the presence of their remaining witnesses on the scheduled dates.

Erisco Foods trial: Police withdraw “evidence” against Chioma Okoli

Related Topics:cyberstalking Erisco Foods evidence

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Sokoto Officials Deny Mosque Attack as Bandits Kill Five in Gatawa Raid

Published

3 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Trends Admin

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Sokoto Officials Deny Mosque Attack as Bandits Kill Five in Gatawa Raid

Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area in Sokoto State, Ayuba Hashimu, has dismissed viral reports alleging that bandits attacked a mosque in the council area, killing an Imam and several worshippers.

Some online platforms had circulated claims that armed bandits stormed a mosque in Sabon Birni, murdered the Imam and congregants, and abducted others.
However, Hashimu, speaking by telephone, described the reports as entirely false.

“I don’t know any mosque that was attacked, not to talk of killing of an Imam and worshippers. The story is false,” he stated.

A member of the state legislature representing the area, Hon. Aminu Boza, also debunked the claims, insisting that no mosque attack occurred on Saturday.

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“I don’t know how they got their story, but it is not true. No mosque was attacked by bandits,” he said.

While officials denied the alleged mosque incident, a separate early morning assault on Gatawa town within the same LGA resulted in five deaths and left one person critically injured.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Daily Trust that six people — including two married women, two teenage girls and two young boys — were abducted by attackers suspected to be bandits.

“The bandits invaded our community around 1:30 a.m. and started shooting sporadically. Our vigilantes engaged them, but four of them paid the supreme price on the spot. Two others sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to the hospital, but one later died,” the resident said.

He added that the attackers also stole livestock as they fled.
“We heard them exchanging fire with security agents, but none of the abducted persons was rescued,” he recounted.

Sokoto Officials Deny Mosque Attack as Bandits Kill Five in Gatawa Raid

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FG Begins Recovery of 157 Almajiri Schools

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3 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Trends Admin

Almajiri school

FG Begins Recovery of 157 Almajiri Schools

The Federal Government has commenced the official recovery of 157 model Almajiri schools built during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in a renewed push to overhaul Almajiri education across the country.

The move was confirmed by Nura Muhammad, spokesperson for the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), during an interview in Abuja on Sunday. He described the recovery process as a crucial step toward fully revamping and institutionalising Almajiri education.

Muhammad explained that the effort follows the establishment of a legally backed national body now responsible for all Almajiri-related programmes — a structure he said was missing during earlier reform attempts.

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While commending former President Jonathan for constructing the schools, which he described as “a noble and well-intentioned stride toward modernising the system,” Muhammad noted that the previous initiative struggled due to weak policy implementation, including inadequate engagement with Alarammas, the traditional Qur’anic teachers who play a central role in the Almajiri system.

He added that the lack of a strong institutional framework — with the project operating only as an initiative under the Federal Ministry of Education — contributed to its challenges.

According to him, the Commission is now strengthened by law and guided by the newly adopted National Policy on Almajiri Education, positioning it to deliver sustainable reforms.

Muhammad expressed confidence that harmful practices linked to the Almajiri system would be addressed, emphasising that all recovered schools would soon be fully under the Commission’s control and rehabilitated to serve their original purpose.

FG Begins Recovery of 157 Almajiri Schools

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Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in Killing of Retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu

Published

9 hours ago

December 7, 2025

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Justice Ifeoma Okogwu

Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in Killing of Retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu

The Delta State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu in Anambra State, arresting key suspects linked to the case.

Spokesperson SP Bright Edafe disclosed on Sunday that operatives of the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), acting on credible intelligence, apprehended 25-year-old security guard Godwin Mngumi on 6 December 2025. Mngumi allegedly murdered the retired judge, and authorities also recovered the deceased’s mobile phone from him.

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According to Edafe, Mngumi confessed to inviting a friend, Nnaji Obalum, and another accomplice — who remains at large — to the residence where the crime was committed. Obalum has since been arrested, while a manhunt continues for the third suspect.

The arrests mark a major step forward in the effort to bring all perpetrators of the high-profile murder to justice.