By Divine Nwakanma
We may not have heard the last in the battle between Erisco Foods Limited, its President/CEO, Chief Eric Umeofia and
Mrs. Chioma Edoka Okoli, the woman who was arrested for complaining that Erisco tomato past contains a lot of sugar.
A letter by obtained by Daily Review Online and signed by Inibehe Effiong, lawyer to Mrs Chioma, said his client signed the apology letter Chief Umeifia published without removing her residential address and that now, her life and that of her family is in danger.
The letter stated: “I am compelled to alert Nigerians about the overt acts of Erisco Foods Limited and its President/CEO, Chief Eric Umeofia, which have endangered the lives of my client, Mrs. Chioma Edoka Okoli and that of her family members.
“In an arrogant, failed and sickening attempt to justify the gruesome violation of the fundamental rights of my client, Chief Umeofia published an involuntary letter of apology which was extracted from my client under duress and oppression to the whole world.
“In publishing the said letter on national televisions and on social media, Chief Umeofia did not bother to redact the residential address of my client.
“Thus, what is supposed to be the private residence of my client has been publicized to the whole world and is trending all over the social media without regards for the security and safety of Chioma, her husband and entire family.
“This irresponsible action by the President of Erisco Foods Limited with the active connivance of the Nigeria Police Force has put the lives of Chioma and her family under threat.
“As the husband of Chioma has already stated, Chief Eric Umeofia had also made blatant threatening statements directed at Chioma in the presence of policemen, including the head of the IGP Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 26th September, 2023. Only one officer was bold enough to caution him to desist from further making such reckless threats in their presence.
“Since the publication of their residential address, my client and her family have been subjected to mental torture, unimaginable fear and apprehension.
“I am therefore minded to alert Nigerians that should any harm behalf Chioma or any member of her family, Erisco Foods Limited, its President and the Nigeria Police Force should be held responsible.