By Halimah Olamide
Lawyer to Mrs Chioma Edoka Okoli, the lady who accused Erriso Foods of producing fake tomato pastes, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, has accused the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of flouting an order of the court not to arrest her client over her review of the product.
The lawyer stated on Tuesday that in spite of a restraining order, a special team of police men who claimed to be acting on orders from the office of the IGP had invaded her residence in the Sangotedo area of Lagos on Tuesday with a move to arrest her.
The lawyer said at about 7am on Tuesday, the policemen came and made to arrest her laying siege on her residence.
He also alleged that the policemen, in order to force the family to come out, disconnected the electricity into the house.
“A team of policemen from Abuja who claim to be acting on the orders of the Inspector General of Police to re-arrest my client refused to serve us with a court order authorizing them to do so. The team from Abuja is being supported by policemen from the Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah.
“The initial team that arrived at her residence called for a reinforcement after we demanded to see the court order authorizing them to rearrest her. They are currently trying to break into her house where she lives with her baby,” he alleged
He said the latest attack on Chioma was in connection with the ongoing case between my client and the police on the alleged instigation of Erisco Foods Limited and its founder, Chief Eric Umeofia.
“The police had secretly filed a “charge” against Chioma at the Federal High Court in Abuja instead of Lagos where the case arose. The charge is pending before Hon. Justice A. R Mohammed. I later got wind of their plot after a tip-off.
“When the case filed by the police in Abuja came up on 7th December 2023, the police counsel informed the court that they were unable to serve my client with the charge (this is not accurate as no attempt was made in this regard,” he said
He said the police counsel then applied for an adjournment for them to file a motion to enable them serve his client with the charge through substituted means. “Justice Mohammed granted the application and adjourned the case to Wednesday, 10th January, 2024 for hearing of the motion.
“We are astonished that the police would turn around today to invade the residence of my client and harass her and her baby without recourse to the court where the charge is currently pending.
“My client has not been served with any charge, summons or arraignment notice as required by law. The case before the court and is coming up tomorrow, 10th January, 2024 for the hearing of the motion the police said they would file to secure a court order to serve my client with their “charge” and accompanying documents.
“The team leader told me over the phone that he a DSP and that he has four ASPs with him and other police officers. He also told me that the PSO to the IGP spoke with him directly and that he cannot disobey the order of the IGP despite the court order barring the police from re-arresting my client.”
The lawyer queried how the IGP would issue a directive to overrule the subsisting order of a court of competent jurisdiction?