In support of the over 300 Women’s Groups Calling for the Boycott of all Erisco Products.
A rich and powerful man’s company cannot be so vicious against a young woman for a mere mistake on her part and claim that his products are for humanity when he is not HUMANE and appears to be against humanity.
The continued prosecution of Chioma Okoli for her negative review of Erisco’s Nagiko tomato paste is the most inhumane abuse of the criminal justice system for an alleged offence with alternative means of resolution.
That Mrs Okoli has had a miscarriage and lost her pregnancy because of the several detentions and constant emotional harassment she has received in the course of the criminal prosecution of her infamous review of the tomato paste is very sad. Such a development, if true, as reportedly credited to her lawyer, should enrage many Nigerians, especially women who believe that the level of resources and state prosecutorial machinery that has been unleashed against her is highly disproportionate to whatever alleged misdemeanour which flowed from her online review of the tomato paste.
Therefore, the decision of over 300 women’s groups to campaign for the boycott of Erisco’s products is a welcome approach in a pluralistic society to protest against a high-handed and vicious company that has refused public entreaties to drop criminal charges against an individual woman whose online misadventure was perceived to be against its corporate interests.
All well-meaning Nigerian female lawyers should follow the steps of these women’s groups by joining Mrs Okoli’s legal defence team led by the highly dependable Inibehe Effiong, who should take the time at the resumed hearing at the Federal High Court to announce their appearances one after the other, no matter their number.
Also, nothing should prevent senior lawyers with a pedigree of humaneness and consistent concern for the oppressed from joining the legal defence team of Mrs Okoli pro bono. Such lawyers in the likes of the highly respected Femi Falana, SAN, Chino Obiagwu, SAN and Liborious Oshoma should consider joining Inibehe to turn the tide of this gargantuan force of oppression that has been deployed against an individual Nigerian woman for merely expressing her views in the new media.
Frank Tietie
Lawyer and Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy for Social Economic Rights (CASER), writes from Abuja
Gatekeepers News is not liable for opinions expressed in this article, they’re strictly the writer’s
