300 Women Groups Call On Nigerian Women To Boycott Erisco Foods Products Over Incarceration Of Tomato Paste Reviewer, Chioma Okoli

More than 300 women's organizations in Nigeria, Under the umbrella of Womanifesto, have jointly urged for the immediate boycott of Erisco Foods products due to the ongoing detention of Chioma Okoli, a tomato paste reviewer imprisoned for her remarks about the company's product.

SaharaReporters had reported how a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered Chioma Okoli to be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre over the review of tomato products made by Erisco Foods Limited on Facebook.

Chioma Okoli was arraigned on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at the Federal High Court in Abuja before Hon. Justice Peter Lifu.

Okoli pleaded not guilty to the two counts of conspiracy and cyberstalking levelled against her.

She was remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre till Friday, May 31, 2024, for a ruling on her bail application.

However, the women groups in a statement jointly signed on Friday, called on all Nigerian women to join them in boycotting Erisco Foods products with immediate effect.

The groups also called on the government to come to the aid of Chioma as its silence is deafening; loudly telling them that consumers cannot voice their opinions about goods they purchased with their hard-earned money.

The groups added that in other countries where the health and nutritional well-being of the citizens are paramount, relevant government agencies would be at the forefront of the investigations into all Erisco Foods products and the corresponding labels instead of leaving the issue in the hands of those who prioritise profit to the lives and general well-being of 200 Million Nigerians.

The statement reads in part, "We call on all Nigerian women to join us to #BoycottErisco products with immediate effect, for the following reasons: The continued harassment & detention of Chioma Okoli.

"The insufferable stress & trauma that has been inflicted on Chioma Okoli since September 2023 to date, which has also led to the loss of her pregnancy.

"Loss of earnings and livelihood due to her inability to work and provide for her family as a direct consequence of the ongoing persecution and psychological molestation.

"The apparent risk and threat to her life and flagrant abuse of her human rights.  

"For being subjected to constant litigation for exercising her ‘freedom of speech and expression, including freedom to hold opinions, and to receive and impart information without interference’ as granted to her under section 39 of the 1999 Nigerian constitution.

"We are concerned about her ability to get justice in a country with a reputation for compromised justice.  

"We salute Chioma's continued courage, bravery and tenacity in the face of intimidation and threats. We will continue to support her quest for justice.  

"It is worthy to note that in other countries where the health and nutritional well-being of the citizens are paramount, relevant government agencies would be at the forefront of the investigations into all Erisco products and the corresponding labels. Instead of leaving this landmark issue in the hands of those who prioritise profit over the lives and general well-being of 200 Million Nigerians.”

"We call on the government to come to the aid of Chioma as your silence is deafening; loudly tell us that we the consumers cannot voice our opinions about goods we purchased with our hard-earned money," the statement added.