FROM SOCIAL MEDIA OPINION TO LEGAL CONFLICT: FREEDOM OF SPEECH, DEFAMATION, AND CORPORATE IMAGE IN NIGERIA – A CRISIS COMMUNICATION CASE STUDY
FROM SOCIAL MEDIA OPINION TO LEGAL CONFLICT: FREEDOM OF SPEECH, DEFAMATION, AND CORPORATE IMAGE IN NIGERIA – A CRISIS COMMUNICATION CASE STUDY

Summary/Abstract: This study examines the controversy between Chioma Okoli and Erisco Foods in Nigeria to explore how digital expression, legal frameworks, and corporate reputation intersect within a contested media environment. The conflict began when Chioma Okoli posted on Facebook that a tomato product was too sweet and later commented that it was killing people, prompting Erisco Foods to file a ₦5 billion defamation lawsuit under the Cybercrimes Act 2015. Using a qualitative case study and directed content analysis, the research shows how online speech can attract legal consequences through statutory interpretation. The findings reveal that culturally rooted expressions can be interpreted as defamatory when removed from their cultural context. It concludes that litigation being a primary response could worsen reputational damage and public distrust. It recommends culturally informed crisis management approaches that balance corporate protection with citizens' freedom of expression, particularly in societies with weak institutional trust and complex legal systems.

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