There was drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 29, 2025, as the Nigeria Police Force failed to present admissible evidence against Mrs. Chioma Edoka Okoli, who is facing cyberstalking charges over her Facebook review of Erisco Foods’ Nagiko Tomato Mix.
Justice Peter Lifu, presiding over the case, again urged both parties to consider an out-of-court settlement, citing Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act. However, Erisco’s representative, Mr. Nnamdi Nwokolo, said the company would only withdraw the case if Okoli issued another apology.
Defence counsel, Inibehe Effiong, rejected the demand, saying several prominent Nigerians had tried to mediate but that Erisco Foods had refused all peaceful resolutions.
When Nwokolo took the stand, he testified that Okoli’s 2023 post about the product’s sugar content went viral, sparking protests and a boycott that allegedly harmed the company’s business. The prosecution attempted to submit several documents, including the Facebook post and emails from foreign partners, but Effiong objected, citing violations of the Evidence Act on electronic and uncertified public documents.
Unable to defend the submissions, the police prosecutor withdrew all documents and asked for an adjournment, which Effiong opposed, demanding ₦500,000 in costs for wasting the court’s time. Justice Lifu agreed the prosecution had acted irresponsibly and adjourned the case to January 21–22, 2026, for cross-examination of the first witness.
