In the midst of a social media uproar surrounding Nagiko Tomato Paste, a product of Erisco Foods, the company’s spokesperson has shed light on the arrest of a Facebook user named Chioma Egoji.
The arrest came after Egoji posted a “negative” review of the tomato paste.
Erisco Foods, the manufacturer of Nagiko Tomato Paste, has been at the center of a controversy sparked by customer reviews on social media.
The arrest of Chioma Egoji raised questions about freedom of expression and the role of companies in responding to online criticism.
The spokesperson for Erisco Food has now clarified the company’s stance on the matter, explaining the reasons behind Egoji’s arrest and the broader context of the situation.
The controversy began when Chioma Egoji posted a critical review of Nagiko Tomato Paste on Facebook. Her review, which highlighted concerns about the product’s quality, sparked a wave of reactions on social media.
Some users supported her claims, while others defended the product and accused her of defamation.
Amidst the online debate, Erisco Foods decided to take legal action against Egoji. The company claimed that her review contained false information and malicious intent, which prompted them to report the matter to the appropriate authorities.
Erisco Foods’ spokesperson emphasized that the arrest was not an attempt to stifle freedom of expression but rather a response to what they believed was a case of defamation. The company stated that they support honest customer feedback but would not tolerate false and damaging statements about their products.
This incident has sparked a wider discussion about the role of social media in consumer feedback and the boundaries of free speech in the digital age.
Erisco Foods maintains that they are committed to providing high-quality products and addressing legitimate customer concerns while taking legal action against false claims.
“Considering, however, that Erisco Foods Limited has built a reputation as a credible organisation committed to due process and the good of humanity, we have decided to bring the said publication to the attention of relevant authorities.
“In light of the above, we wish to reiterate that Erisco Foods Limited is solely committed to the production of healthy tomato products, including other products that have the full regulatory stamp and approval of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and Standard Organisation of Nigeria.
“While we recognise the rights of our consumers to make genuine observations about our products, we want to thank our esteemed customers for their continued patronage of Erisco Foods Limited.
“However, having built our reputation on healthy and quality products which have earned us both local and international awards, including the National Productivity Order of Merit Award, we will take all necessary actions against any malicious attack on our reputation.”
In an exclusive interview conducted by PUNCH Online, Erisco Food’s spokesperson, Nnamdi Nwokolo, verified that the company had submitted a formal petition to the police, urging them to initiate an investigation into the allegations.
He said, “The allegations were grave, so we petitioned the police to investigate the matter. So if the police find criminal defamation against Chioma Egodi and then arrest her, is it a crime that we sought the law?”
A copy of the petition obtained by journalists, dated September 19, 2023, and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police was titled, “Complaint of criminal conspiracy, the marketing and blackmail of killing people with our product against an organised syndicate faking our products after failing to extort money from us and cyberbullying.”
The petition read, “We write to seek your urgent intervention in stopping an organised criminal syndicate that has been faking our products as well as posting false and unsubstantiated information that cannot be proven against our products both online and offline, with a view to close down our operations so as to give advantage to their cohorts, including greedy manufacturers and importers of substandard products into the country.”
On how the issue started, Nwokolo said, “She made a post on social media, a review. Further engagement under that review showed that it wasn’t an honest review. It showed that there was an attempt to bring down the product.
“Someone in her comment section asked her why she did the review, and she responded by saying that person should go talk to her brother (Erisco Food) to stop killing people.
“She made so many allegations, and attempts to get her to share more details about the product failed. So many people in her comment section asked her to share these details: production date, among other details, were requested, but she refused to provide them.”
When asked if the company had contacted Egodi at any point, Nwokolo said, “Personally, no.
“We released a statement and tagged her in it saying these allegations are grave, and we will take further steps to get to the root of things,” Nwokolo said.