Chizoba Okoli, husband of Chioma Egodi Jnr., the popular Facebook user who was arrested by the police for her review of a tomato paste on social media, has accused the police in Lagos State of assaulting his wife.

Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Friday, Okoli said the police manhandled Egodi Jnr. after she was arrested. He also claimed they went through her phone to see if they would find incriminating evidence on it. Okoli said all this happened while his wife was in detention at the Ogudu Police Station.

Okoli stated that the police officers subsequently withheld the Facebook user’s phone, locked her in a cell and then flew her to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

READ MORE: ‘Why Should I Leave Her?’ — Erisco Foods CEO Eric Umeofia Threatens Chioma Egodi Jnr With N5bn Lawsuit

“My wife went to the market and bought Nagiko Tamota paste that we were supposed to use on Sunday,” Okoli said.

“When she came back on Sunday, she started cooking and she opened the tomato paste and she had to taste it [sic].

“And when she tasted it, she felt the taste wasn’t usual [sic]. It was tasting sugary and she came to me and asked if I could have a taste as well and I said no, it is not good, throw it away.

“After that, we had to try to get an opinion from probably people who have used the tomato to know if actually that is how the tomato is or whether she bought the wrong one or something [sic].

“We were just about asking questions and seeking opinions from her followers [sic].”

Okoli said his wife spent three days in police detention as she was transferred to Abuja where she spent two nights in custody after spending a day in a Lagos cell.

Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer who was also on the show, corroborated Okoli’s claims.

Effiong further said the police in Abuja took Egodi Jnr. to her bank and checked her bank records to see if she received any suspicious payments to suggest she was paid by someone or a group for the review, but found nothing.

READ MORE: Erisco Foods Told Police Chioma Egodi Jnr Was an ‘Extortionist’

Effiong faulted Eric Umeofia, Erisco Foods CEO, for writing to the police and accusing Egodi Jnr of conspiracy, leading a syndicate and attempting to extort money from his company.

Effiong also said both Egodi Jnr. and Okoli were made to co-sign an apology letter under duress in Abuja and that the couple would be suing Erisco Foods for damages to the tune of N500 million.

On Thursday, Umeofia had appeared on the same television station to say he would be suing Egodi Jnr. for N5 billion if she failed to publish the apology letter on all her social media handles.

FIJ made several phone calls to Benjamin Hundeyin, Police Public Relations Officer for Lagos State, for comments on the matter, but they were not answered. The text message that was sent to him had also not been responded to at press time.

Ojukwu is a reporter with FIJ in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.