Dozie Ikedife Junior, the man who stood as surety for embattled Chioma Egodi, has opened up about the real reason her case against Erisco Foods Limited is still foot-dragging.
Recall that Chioma claimed in a Facebook post on September 17, 2023, that she bought Nagiko Tomato Mix, a product of Erisco Foods, the previous day and that it tasted too sweet and subsequently alleged that the product is killing people.
Chioma claimed she had intended to purchase her regular brands, Gino or Sonia, but they were not readily available.
Her post generated reactions and forced the management of the company to involve the police through a petition to Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police.
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Dozie Ikedife Jr.’s efforts led to her subsequent release under bail conditions.
Ikedife, while appearing on Moneyline with Nancy, a programme on AIT, said Chioma willingly offered to write a letter of apology, contrary to insinuations on social media that she wrote the letter of apology under duress.
He, however, lamented that Chioma absconded despite an order by the police to return in seven days.
Ikedife claimed that the police arrested and detained him because he was unable to produce Chioma after she absconded.
He said, “On the 25th of September 2023, I got a call from Mrs. May Atueyi, a good family friend and a lady I respect, to help her niece in trouble at the Force HQ in Abuja.
“She gave me the needed information and the phone number of Chief Eric Umeofia, the CEO of Erisco Foods Ltd.
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“I called Chief Umeofia repeatedly on that day, then spoke with him on the 26th. He was most courteous to me and invited me to come to the Force Headquarters for further conversation.
“At the Force HQ, in the office of the AIG, Chief Umeofia, Erisco’s PR man, Chioma and her husband, Chioma’s lawyer from Afam Osuigwe’s chamber, and a few other people were in the office.
“Chioma and her husband were very apologetic, on their knees, begging to be forgiven, and Chioma offered to write an apology letter without being coerced by anybody.
She also apologised to Chief Umeofia and pleaded that we should be given the opportunity to resolve the differences at home after the apology letter was written. Chioma promised to delete the negative posts immediately after she got her phone.
“The police advised that, with our apologies, we should come back in seven days to report how we resolved the matter.
“We all moved to a second office for Chioma to write the apology letter, guided by her lawyer. Chioma’s husband and I both witnessed the delivery of the apology letter to Chief Umeofia.
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“With the understanding and promise that Chioma will correct her mistakes by deleting her earlier posts and posting her apology letter on her Facebook page,.
“I applied for her bail, and bail was granted to her at no financial cost to any of us.
“For avoidance of doubt, Chioma wrote the apology willingly in the presence of her lawyer from the chamber of Afam Osuigwe.
Since Chioma’s husband and I were not under custody, no one could have forced us to sign as witnesses, especially since we witnessed the writing and reading of the apology letter.
“While I am glad I took Chioma on bail, I stand by my act of attempting to resolve this Tomato Mix Saga. I am, however, disappointed that the simple task of owning the apology as written and posting it on her wall has dragged on this far. I have only met the two parties once at the police headquarters, but I remain optimistic that we can still resolve this matter at home.
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“It is most unfair for anyone to say that the apology letter was written or witnessed under any form of compulsion.
Let’s give peace a chance.”
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