Nigerians have raised the sum of N1.9million to support Chioma Okoli’s legal battle against an indigenous food product manufacturer, Erisco Foods Limited, over a Facebook comment on the latter’s product.
Mrs Okoli is being prosecuted by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on the strength of a petition by Erisco Foods Limited following a social media review of the company’s tomato paste product since September, 2023.
Okoli’s legal counsel and Lagos-based human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, disclosed the donation on his social media handles on Wednesday.
Effiong, who alleged that his client was being persecuted by the Police and Erisco Foods wrote: “Six days ago, I started a campaign on X (Twitter) to raise funds to support Chioma Edoka Okoli who is currently facing persecution from the Nigeria Police Force and Erisco Foods Limited.
“As at this morning (Wednesday), Nigerians have donated about N1.9 Million to her to support her cause.
“Recall that the police had laid a siege on her family residence for over ten hours in their attempt to illegally re-arrest her in flagrant violation of a subsisting restraining order by the Federal High Court.”
The lawyer noted that Okoli’s children were being traumatised and they were no longer safe in their current home, adding that part of the funds will be used to support them to get another accommodation.
