Nasarawa State Judicial Commission has demoted Emmanuel Jatau from chief magistrate II to senior magistrate over misconduct in the case involving Chioma Okoli and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
This was contained in a letter dated January 6, 2025, signed by Yahaya Shafa, secretary of the commission, and addressed to Inibehe Effiong, Okoli’s counsel.
The letter reads, “Consequently, I have been directed by the Hon. Chief Judge of Nasarawa State and Chairman Judicial Service Commission to write and inform you that Hon. Emmanuel A. Jatau has been demoted by a grade level lower than his current grade level i.e from Chief Magistrate II on GL 15 to Senior Magistrate I on GL 14 and stripped of his magisterial duties.”
Recall that Okoli made a post on her Facebook page on September 17, 2023, alleging that Nagiko Tomato Mix, one of the tomato paste variants of Erisco Foods Limited was sugary when she tasted it.
Subsequently, Erisco Foods Limited dismissed her claim, it is untrue and unfounded.
Subsequently, she was arrested by the police following a petition by Eric Umeofia, president and CEO of the company. Her arrest however sparked outrage from netizens online, who called for her release.
The police then obtained an arrest warrant and remand order from a magistrate court in Masaka, Nasarawa.
Okoli was later arraigned at federal high court in Abuja where she pleaded not guilty to the two counts of conspiracy and cyberstalking. She was later granted bail after being remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre.
Sadly, she suffered a miscarriage amid the legal battle.
