An Abuja Federal High Court, Justice Peter Lifu on Friday granted Chioma Okoli, bail in the sum of five million naira and two sureties in like sum.
He instructed the defendant to also deposit her international passport if any. Okoli is facing a two-count charge bordering on cybercrime.
She was sued over a Facebook post she shared on September 17, 2023, where she made some commentary on Erisco Foods Limited’s tomato paste.
In her post, she claimed she purchased Nagiko Tomato Mix from the company the day before and found it utterly sugary.
She mentioned that she normally buys from other brands, but they were out of stock.
Her post, however, generated reactions and forced the management of the company to involve the police through a petition to the Inspector-General. The controversy also got the attention of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
The trial judge, in his ruling, on Friday, agreed with the arguments of the defendant’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, that the offence with which Okoli was charged was a bailable one.
Justice Lifu also held that denying her bail is a wrong application of discretion which will amount to a pre-trial judgment and judicial rascality. On this ground, he granted her bail request while he adjourned the matter until June 13 for further hearing.