Update-ERISCO Foods Saga: Founder says reviewer syndicate of importers, to sue N5bn damages

Founder and President of Erisco Foods Limited, Eris Umeofia has disclosed Thursday on a televised interview on ARISE that he has the right to call for the arrest of Chioma Egodi, a reviewer of one of the brands, Najiko Tomato Mix.

Umeofia also said that he will be pursuing legal action and suing Egodi for N5 billion in damages for the loss incurred within the period. He mentioned that due to this issue, he has lost major deals in his business, saying, “I have credit line of 15 million dollars from two customers, and now it is suspended.”

Erisco Foods Limited has been under fire recently after they orchestrated the arrest of Chioma Egodi who posted a review of the Erisco product- Najiko Tomato Mix- on her Facebook page, claiming that the product contained too much sugar, and as such is not safe for human consumption.

The company also accused the Facebook user of telling her followers to avoid the tomato paste because it was “not fit for human consumption.”

“We will not allow our efforts of 40 years over to be destroyed by somebody that is the syndicate of importers that have been fighting our products since the beginning.” He explained that as she kept saying online that the Erisco products are killing people and he did not have any way to get her to speak with him, he requested the Inspector General of police to help him secure her.

Umeofia said that he petitioned the IGP for her arrest in a letter which was titled Complaint Of Criminal Conspiracy, Demarketing and Blackmailing Of Our Product and Cyberbullying Against An Organized Syndicate Faking Our Products After Failing To Extort Money From Us (paraphrased).

Referencing the multiple criticisms on social media over the arrest of his ‘customer’, Umeofia stressed that Egodi is not a customer of Erisco products, arguing that she said she bought the product once to test it. “The consumer has rights. None of you will love your customers more than me. I love my customers, if no customer, I would not be what I am today, so none of you will come and advise me on how to handle my customers, I know they’re my strength. So, when customers come to destroy you, what is Nigeria thinking?”

Umeofia then said, “This is another Mmesoma and JAMB case, simple. People are castigating JAMB, now, nobody got the guts to say, JAMB, sorry for what I said. People must come back and tell me sorry.

He revealed also that before her release from police custody, Egodi and her husband offered to tender an apology, saying that she will withdraw all the statements that she made. He claimed that the police then gave a condition that she be given 7 days to withdraw all the posts and tender an apology letter. He claimed that the apology letter had been written and signed by Edoka, and he had a copy of it.

“I sincerely wish to apologize to Erisco foods limited. In the post I made on Facebook about their product, Nagiko Tomato mix. I am sorry for the lies concerning your products. I reject my actions and wish to be forgiven. I pledge that this type of bad behaviour will never happen again. I undertake to retract all my earlier posts on this matter immediately, this is without any compulsion. I will do anything within my power to ratify the things I did wrongly concerning the matter,”

However, when he was asked if he was taking legal action against Egodi, he said, “I will, surely. If she accepted in the police it is a criminal case, what of my damages? Is it right?” He went on to say that he will be suing her for damages in the amount of 5 billion naira, saying, “People should go and read what she posted to show you that she is determined to kill us. So why should I leave her?”

Umeofia said that the letter of apology was not enough because she had not posted it on social media as they agreed. “If you don’t post it there, we’re going for 5 billion,” he said.

The story has been trending on the Nigeria media space about a Nigerian facebook reviewer who was arrested for posting online a negative review of a tinned tomatoes brand “Nagiko”, owned by popular brand, “Erisko Foods Ltd,” a Nigerian-based- product manufacturing company.

The reviewer, identified as Chioma Egodi, made a post on September 17 on Facebook criticising Nagiko Tomato Paste for having too much sugar.

“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 (Nagiko). When I opened it omo! I decided to taste it. Sugar is just too much. Haa biko (please) let me know if you have used this tin tomato before because this is an ike gwuru (tiring) situation,” Egodi Jnr. had posted on Facebook.

Erisco Food responded, calling the claims “untrue” and stating that Egodi’s post was intended to mislead customers and discredit their image. They also filed a police petition to investigate the matter.

In an interview, the spokesperson for Erisco Food confirmed the petition and defended the company’s actions, saying, “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?”

The management of Erisco Foods Limited thereafter issued an official statement about the post Egodi made on Facebook about their product and also said they would take all necessary actions against any malicious attack on their reputation. “The attention of Erisco Foods Limited has been drawn to a Facebook post by one Chioma Egodi Jnr on September 17, 2023, alleging that Nagtko Tomato Mix, one of the three tomato paste variants of Erisco Foods Limited, contains an unhealthy amount of sugar and therefore not fit for human consumption,” Erisco wrote.

Erisco Foods, in a statement, pledged to take all necessary actions against any malicious attack on its reputation, describing the claims as untrue and unfounded.

“While this claim is untrue and unfounded in its entirety, we wish to put on record that Erisco Foods Limited, from inception Is built on the vision and mission to manufacture and promote healthy, wholly Made-in-Nigeria tomato products with the commitment to feeding not only Nigerians but also Africans with healthy foods.

“Our Initial reaction was to ignore and disregard the post which was obviously intended to mistead our esteemed customers and discredit the image of Ensco Foods Limited, as previously instigated by some elements and syndicates who are uncomfortable with our increasing market dominance as a leading indigenous manufacturer of 100% natural tomato pastes. Considering, however, that Erisco Foods Limited has built a reputation as a credible organization 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 NAFDAC and Standard Organization of Nigeria. “While we recognize 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.”

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) announced that it will summon Erisco Foods Limited in connection with Chioma Egodi Jnr’s arrest and detention. Barrister Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of FCCPC, said this on X (previously Twitter) following the arrest of Egodi, who reviewed Erisco’s goods.