Nigerians are angry that Erisco Foods, the manufacturer of Nagiko tomato paste instigated the police to arrest a consumer, Chioma Egodi for complaining that the product is sugary.
Netizens took to their X handles to express outrage over the arrest of Egodi at the behest of Erisco Foods.
@NaijaNative said: “Erisco Foods should know that this is just a review. She never said it had unhealthy amount of sugar. It was sugary to her taste buds. Anyway I won’t ever buy your product or advice anyone to do so. You are extremely unprofessional. Chioma Egodi must be release.”
@MercyEgbai said: “I remember the interview on channels when the CEO of Erisco foods was complaining on how the Chinese companies were bullying local manufacturers. Today he and his company are bullying a Nigerian for her honest review of his products.”
@properpose said: “Chioma must be protected, wherever they’ve taken her to. ERISCOFOODS must be made to pay her the damages, next time they wouldn’t want to commit such suicidal arrest. @fccpcnigeria and @NafdacAgency should review and make sure her right is upheld. Consumer review is not a crime.”
Amnesty International has asked the Nigerian Police to immediately release Chioma Egodi.
Making this call in a tweet on its official X account, the rights organization argued that no one should be arrested for exercising their freedom of expression.
PoliticsNow recalls that the Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Council Babtunde Irukere, had earlier confirmed the arrest.
Mr Irukere in a tweet via his X account, detailed that the lady who was arrested in Lagos had been transferred to the force headquarters in Abuja.
The lady had on September 17, taken to Facebook after buying the product to give a review of what she discovered. She wrote: “I went to buy tin tomatoes yesterday that I will use to make stew. I didn’t see Gino and Sonia. So, I decided to buy this one. When I opened it, I decided to taste it. Omo! Sugar was just too much. Haaa, Biko let me know if you have used this tin tomato before because this is an Ike gwuru situation.”
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