The Nasarawa State Judicial Commission has demoted Emmanuel Jatau, a Chief Magistrate, to Senior Magistrate I over his involvement in the controversial case of Chioma Okoli and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The decision, communicated in a letter dated January 6, 2025, was sent to Okoli’s legal counsel, Inibehe Effiong. The letter, signed by Yahaya Shafa, the commission’s secretary, outlined the disciplinary measures taken against Jatau.
The letter stated: “Consequently, I have been directed by the Hon. Chief Judge of Nasarawa State and Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission to inform you that Hon. Emmanuel A. Jatau has been demoted by one grade level, from Chief Magistrate II on GL 15 to Senior Magistrate I on GL 14, and has been stripped of his magisterial duties.”
The case traces back to September 17, 2023, when Chioma Okoli posted on Facebook claiming that Nagiko Tomato Mix, a product of Erisco Foods Limited, was overly sugary. In response, the company labeled her claim as “untrue and unfounded.” Shortly after, Okoli was arrested following a petition from Erisco Foods’ CEO, Eric Umeofia. Her arrest sparked public outrage, with many Nigerians demanding her release on social media.
The police had obtained an arrest warrant and a remand order from a magistrate court in Masaka, Nasarawa State, leading to her detention. Okoli was later arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where she pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and cyberstalking. Initially held at the Suleja Correctional Centre, she was later granted bail. During the legal proceedings, Okoli tragically suffered a miscarriage.
Displeased with the court orders, Effiong filed a petition against Magistrate Jatau with the Nasarawa State Judicial Commission. Effiong criticized Jatau’s actions, questioning his decision to issue the warrants despite Okoli neither living in Nasarawa nor committing the alleged offences there.
Effiong’s petition argued, “Fundamentally, the Chief Magistrate Court in Masaka, Nasarawa State, lacks the jurisdiction to entertain applications for warrants of arrest and remand.” He further pointed out that the alleged offences, involving cybercrimes under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
Effiong urged the commission to take appropriate disciplinary action against Jatau and any other officials involved, calling for sanctions due to the magistrate’s overreach.
