Categories: CrimesNews

Court sends Erisco tomato paste reviewer to prison over defamation

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded Chioma Egodi in the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Suleja, Niger State, over the criminal defamation charges against Erisco Tomato Paste.

The presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, ordered the remand of the woman on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

Justice Lifu ordered Egodi’s remand after she pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges brought under the Cybercrime Act of 2015.

The judge, therefore, fixed Friday, May 31, for ruling on her bail application filed by Egodi’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.

Effiong had tendered a medical report before the court, saying his client suffered a miscarriage as a result of the psychological trauma of the case.

However, prosecution counsel Abdulrashid Sidi prayed the court to refuse the bail application, noting that going by the history of the case, the defendant would likely jump bail.

Atiku: Tinubu’s policies pauperise poor, hostile to businesses

The lawyer informed the court that the defendant had failed to honour the terms of her initial administrative bail and would not comply if given a fresh one.

Unable to deliver the ruling on the spot, the judge shifted it to Friday while the main hearing would commence on June 13.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had filed a two-count charge against Chioma, Happiness Obas, and Don Kashking, both said to be at large, on alleged conspiracy to send a message on Facebook through the handle Chioma Egodi Jnr, to instigate people against the tomato paste produced by Erisco Foods Limited.

According to the charge, the defendants knew 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.”

The offences, according to the charge, are contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) and 24(1)(b) Cybercrime Prohibition Act.

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

Governor orders aides to declare assets

Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has directed all his political appointees to declare their assets.…

1 hour ago

Nnamdi Kanu apologises for insulting judge, lawyers

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has tendered an…

1 hour ago

Heirs Holdings partners GIVO Africa to tackle plastic waste

Heirs Holdings has announced a partnership with GIVO Africa, a climate technology and recycling company,…

4 hours ago

Global flights disrupted over fire at UK’s Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom (UK) has announced it would be closed on Friday,…

4 hours ago

Trump signs order dismantling U.S. education department

United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order intended to essentially dismantle the…

4 hours ago

Gunmen kidnap FRSC officer in Benue

Gunmen have abducted an officer of the Benue State command of the Federal Road Safety…

5 hours ago