A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to one Chioma Okoli, a lady facing trial for purportedly giving a negative review on Facebook for a tomato paste manufactured by Erisco Foods.
The trial judge, Peter Lifu admitted Mrs Okoli to bail in the sum of N5million and two sureties in like sum one of whom is her spouse, with June 13 now scheduled for trial.
Chioma Okoli was arraigned on Tuesday, May 28 on two counts of alleged conspiracy and cyberstalking levelled against her by the Inspector General of Police. This is a case which is at the instance of Eric Omeofia CEO of Erisco Foods, who had alleged in 2023 that the alleged negative product review negatively impacted his business.
Following her arraignment where she denied any wrongdoing, Okoli was remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre till this Friday.
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who’s the counsel to Okoli has hailed the decision of the judge to grant his client bail on “liberal terms.” And he says efforts are on to perfect the bail conditions to ensure she returns home to her family.
Effiong had previously told the court that his client suffered miscarriage in the course of the case and eventually lost her baby.
