A Nigerian court remanded social media influencer Chioma Okoli to prison for critical comments about a tomato paste product, sparking free speech outrage.
In a case that has sparked an uproar over free speech, a Nigerian court has ordered social media influencer Chioma Okoli to be jailed pending trial for her negative review of a popular tomato paste product.
Okoli, known for her food reviews on platforms like Facebook, was arraigned Tuesday before a Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of conspiracy and cyberstalking brought by Erisco Foods Limited over comments she made criticizing their Nagiko Tomato Mix.
The presiding judge, Hon. Peter Lifu, remanded Okoli to Suleja Correctional Centre until May 31, when her bail application will be considered. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Okoli's lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court that his client suffered a miscarriage during the ordeal of the case, describing it as a violation of her fundamental rights by Erisco and law enforcement.
The charges stem from a September 2023 Facebook review in which Okoli, under "Chioma Egodi Jnr," allegedly falsely claimed that the Nagiko product contained excessive sugar levels. Erisco's CEO claimed the negative review damaged the company.
The harsh pretrial detention of Okoli over a consumer critique has ignited widespread condemnation from free speech advocates. Legal experts questioned whether mere negative opinions about a product should constitute criminal cyberstalking.
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