‘I’ll sue for N5bn’ — Erisco founder threatens legal action on consumer over product review

Eric Umeofia, founder of  Erisco Foods Limited, says he will take legal steps against Chioma Egodi, a consumer who gave a review of one of the company’s products.

Umeofia spoke in an interview on Thursday on Arise TV.

On September 17, Egodi made a post on Facebook, stating that she tasted Nagiko Tomato Mix — one of the tomato paste variants of the firm — and found it sugary.

She had also claimed that the product was “killing people”.

Reacting in a statement, Erisco Foods Limited described the claim as untrue and unfounded.

The company said the post was intended to mislead its customers and discredit its image “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”.

The organisation said it “decided to bring the said publication to the attention of relevant authorities”.

However,  Edogi was later arrested by the police after the company filed a complaint about the post.

Her arrest began to trend on social media, with many demanding her release and calling for a boycott of Erisco Foods.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) had also made an attempt to intervene in the matter.

Speaking during the interview, Umeofia said the post had cost him so much, including the company’s credit line, as he vowed to sue Edigo for N5 billion in damages.

He also said Edigo must tender a public apology by making a social media post.

“I had a $30 billion credit line from China but now it’s been suspended because of this,” Umeofia said.

“I will sue, surely. If she settles with the police on this trivial case, what about my damages? Is it right? People keep saying what they do not know. Where is our conscience or religion? That somebody would say that I am killing people and people are supporting them. People must come and tell me sorry.

“I will sue her for N5 billion if she does not comply with what we say.”

‘FX RACKETEERING: I DIDN’T COMPROMISE’

Speaking further, the manufacturer said he had faced challenges operating in Nigeria, especially in getting foreign exchange (FX) from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to Umeofia, getting dollars from the CBN requires him to  “compromise”.

He said there are independent bodies in the apex bank who collect certain cuts or amounts from manufacturers when they try to get FX.

“I didn’t want to compromise, that was the option I got,” Umeofia said.

“If you go through the bank you must compromise. before you get FX.

“There is big racketting in CBN, how they do it is their business. Since they started three years ago, I preferred to buy from the parallel market.”

Umeofia added that he looks forward to the policies of the new governor of the apex bank.