The lawyer added that Umeofia in an apology he rendered to his client also published the private residence of his client “to the whole world and is trending all over the social media without regards for the security and safety of Chioma, her husband and entire family.”
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who is also counsel to Mrs Chioma Okoli, a female customer detained and harassed by the Nigerian police for reviewing a product of Erisco Foods Limited has raised the alarm about the safety of his client and her family members.
In a release on Saturday obtained by SaharaReporters, the lawyer stated that he wished to alert Nigerians to hold the President/Chief Executive Officer of Erisco company, Chief Eric Umeofia, responsible if any untoward incident happened to his client, Mrs. Chioma Edoka Okoli and her family members.
The lawyer added that Umeofia in an apology he rendered to his client also published the private residence of his client “to the whole world and is trending all over the social media without regards for the security and safety of Chioma, her husband and entire family.”
Effiong said, “I am compelled to alert Nigerians about the overt acts of Erisco Foods Limited and its President/CEO, Chief Eric Umeofia, which have endangered the lives of my client, Mrs. Chioma Edoka Okoli and that of her family members.
“In an arrogant, failed and sickening attempt to justify the gruesome violation of the fundamental rights of my client, Chief Umeofia published an involuntary letter of apology which was extracted from my client under duress and oppression to the whole world.
“In publishing the said letter on national televisions and on social media, Chief Umeofia did not bother to redact the residential address of my client.
“Thus, what is supposed to be the private residence of my client has been publicised to the whole world and is trending all over the social media without regards for the security and safety of Chioma, her husband and entire family.
“This irresponsible action by the President of Erisco Foods Limited with the active connivance of the Nigeria Police Force has put the lives of Chioma and her family under threat. As the husband of Chioma has already stated, Chief Eric Umeofia had also made blatant threatening statements directed at Chioma in the presence of policemen, including the head of the IGP Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 26th September, 2023. Only one officer was bold enough to caution him to desist from further making such reckless threats in their presence.
“Since the publication of their residential address, my client and her family have been subjected to mental torture, unimaginable fear and apprehension.
“I am therefore minded to alert Nigerians that should any harm befalls Chioma or any member of her family, Erisco Foods Limited, its President and the Nigeria Police Force should be held responsible.”