The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, granted bail to Chioma Okoli who has been in detention since 2023. She was held for her alleged negative review of a tomato paste belonging to Erisco Foods Limited.
In the ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the defendant was granted bail to the tune of N5million. She was also asked to provide with two sureties in the like sum.
According to Justice Lifu, one of the sureties must be the defendant’s spouse or blood relative. And must have verified source of income. The judge also stressed that the person must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
Lifu held that the sureties must deposit their passport photograph. This is even as the defendant was ordered to surrender her international passport. She was also mandated not travel out of the country without jurisdiction.
In delivering the granting to bail, the trial judge stated that the charge against the defendant contained bailable offences.
He subsequently adjourned the matter till June 13 for hearing.
Recall that the court had on May 28, remanded the defendant at the Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State. This was after she pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and cyberstalking.
The defendant was brought to the court by the Inspector General of Police.
Addressing the court, the prosecution counsel alleged that the defendant had sometime in September 2023, conspired with two others currently at large. They intentionally published a false message on Facebook with the intention of instigating people against a tomato paste that belongs to Erisco Foods Limited.
The Police maintained that the intent of the defendant was to use the Facebook post “to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, the management, and members of the family.”
The Police also alleged that the defendant, by her action, committed an offense contrary and punishable under Section 27 (1) (B) Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.
But, following the defendant’s plea of innocence, her lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, prayed the court to release her on bail. This is pending the determination of the case against her.
Addressing the court, Effiong told the court that his client suffered miscarriage in the course of the case. And she eventually lost her baby.
The prosecution counsel, Abdulrashid Isyaku-Sidi, urged the court to decline the bail application.
Recall that the owner of Erisco Foods Limited, Chief Eric Umeofia, had in 2023, okayed Mrs. Okoli’s arrest. He insisted that her negative review greatly affected his business.
The defendant had allegedly claimed that Nagiko Tomato Mix, a product of Erisco Foods Limited, which she bought, contained too much sugar.
However, following the petition by Chief Umeofia, the Police, in 2023, arrested the defendant.
The two-count charge the IGP eventually entered against the defendant, read: “That you Chioma Edoka Okoli also known as Chioma Egodi Jnr, Happiness Obas now at large And Don Kashking now at large ‘m’ on or about sometime in the month of September 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourself and intentionally sent a message by means of computer and social media network such as Facebook, by using your Facebook handle by name Chioma Egodi Jnr, with the intention of instigating people against Erisco Foods Limited. Knowing the said information to be false and with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, the management, and members of the family. Thereby committed an offense contrary and punishable under Section 27 (1) (B) Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.
“That you Chioma Edoka Okoli also known as Chioma Egodi Jnr, Happiness Obas now at large and Don Kashking now at large ‘m’ on or about sometime in the month of September, 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court intentionally send a message by means of computer and social media network such as Facebook, by using your Facebook handle by name Chioma Egodi Jnr, with the intention of instigating Erisco Foods Limited, knowing the said information to be false and with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, the management, and members of the family. And thereby committed an offense contrary and punishable under Section 24 (1) (B) Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.”
source: Vanguard
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