How AIICO Insurance Allegedly Lose N73.3m To Female Marketing Officer, Chidinma Kalu

Reports filtering into the air have indicated that AIICO Insurance Plc, one of the leading insurance companies in Nigeria, has allegedly lost a sum to the tune of N73,380 million, belonging to its policyholders, to one of its marketing officers, Chidinma Kalu.

At the moment, the insurance firm is doing everything legally possible to recover the said sum from the Marketing Officer.

Our correspondent gathered that the Marketing Officer allegedly defrauded the firm’s policyholders of the said sum through electronic means. 

Kalu was further alleged to have received the said sum from policyholders under the pretence of investing the monies in a Single Premium Policy and Life Insurance Policy.

Kalu, who worked at both the Ikeja and Lagos Island branches of the insurance firm, was accused of manipulating and tampering with AIICO’s database and computer devices, to commit the monumental fraud.

Furthermore, it was gathered that upon the discovery of the alleged fraud, the Marketing Officer, became evasive, and the matter was reported to the Lagos State Police Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti-Yaba, Lagos, whose operatives after a sting operation, apprehended her.

As a result, and consequent upon her arrest and conclusion of the investigation into the allegation, she was charged to a Lagos Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Though the matter was withdrawn from the Magistrates’ Court, a 15-count charge was instituted against her at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, where she had already been arraigned before the court, presided over by Justice Friday Ogazi, on the charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and cybercrimes and fraud of N73,380,000 million.

While the arraignment lasted, the counsel for the police, Joseph Ebosereme, told the judge that Kalu committed the alleged crime between 2018 and 2023.

The lawyer further hinted to the court that the Marketing Officer conspired with some others now at large to commit the offences.

Ebosereme insisted that the act contravened Sections 27, 14(2), 33 (1) 17(3), and 36(2), of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention etc) Act Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2015. 

Parts of the 15 counts charge read: “That you Chidinma Kalu ’F’ and others at large on or before the year 2018 at AlICO Insurance premises at Ikeja area of Lagos and Island Area of Lagos, within the Federal High Court Lagos judicial division did conspire among yourself to commit felony to wit; manipulating of computer devices, tampering of AIICO Insurance Database to defraud, and forgery and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention etc) Act Laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria 2015. 

“That you Chidinma Kalu ’’F’ and others at large between the year 2018 and the month of May 2023 while in the employment of AIICO Insurance Company Plc as a Marketer at Ikeja area of Lagos and Island Area of Lagos, in the Federal High Court, Lagos judicial division with intent to defraud, without authorization from the management of your employer, AIICO Insurance Company Plc, cause the loss of Twenty-Five Million, Four Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira, (N25,460,000.00) which part was transferred into your account and part AIICO insurance account by different insured persons by altering and/or suppressing the Database of your company as contained in the company computer system and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 14 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention etc) Act, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2015. 

“That you Chidinma Kalu ’F’ and others at large on or before the year 2018 at AlICO Insurance premises at Ikeja area of Lagos and Island Area of Lagos, within the Federal High Court Lagos judicial division did conspire among yourself to commit felony to wit; manipulating of computer devices, tampering of AIICO Insurance Database to defraud, and forgery and thereby committed an offence contrary to, and punishable under Section 27 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention etc) Act, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2015. 

“That you Chidinma Kalu ‘F and others at large between the year 2018 and the month of May 2023 while in the employment of AIICO Insurance Company Plc as a marketer at Ikeja area of Lagos and Island area of Lagos, within the Federal High Court Lagos Judicial Division, fraudulently redirected the sum of Twenty-Two Million Naira (N22,000,000.00) which was transferred to AIICO Insurance Plc financial account by one Okwuma Ikenna Thadeus to Rosemary Amos and Azubike Amos and other accounts electronically, contrary to and punishable under Section 36(2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2015. 

“That you Chidinma Kalu ‘F’ and others at large, between the year 2018 and May 2023 while in the employment of AllCO Insurance Company Plc as a marketer at Ikeja area of Lagos and Island area of Lagos, within the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division fraudulently redirected the sum of Five Million And Fifty Thousand Naira (N5,050,000.00) which was transferred to AIICO Insurance Plc financial account by Stanley Osabhe Idemudia to Rosemary Amos and Azubike Amos and others account electronically, contrary to and punishable under Section 36(2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2015.”

But Kalu pleaded not guilty to the charge made against her by the police, and this prompted the prosecution to ask the court for a trial date, just as it prayed to the judge to remand the defendant at the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) facility until the determination of the charge.

Meanwhile, the counsel for the Marketing Officer, P. O Ogunnubi, informed the court that he had filed his client’s bail application and the same has been served on the prosecutor, adding that Kalu was formally charged before a Magistrates’ Court in Lagos before being brought to court for another charge on the same matter.

The defence lawyer urged Justice Ogazi to admit Kalu to bail in the most liberal terms on the reason that the Marketing Officer had never jumped bail while standing trial on the matter before the lower court.

Justice Ogazi, in his ruling, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety in like sum.

The judge directed that the surety could be either a Civil Servant in Grade Level 12 and above or a landed property owner with a Certificate of Occupancy. 

In adding that the surety must submit its two passport photographs and evidence of tax payment, Justice Ogazi adjourned the matter until May 29, for trial.

He also ordered that Kalu be remanded in NCoS’ custody until when she can meet the bail terms.

All rights reserved. This material and other digital volumes on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from THE NEWS ACCELERATOR NETWORK.

For advert placement, please contact thenewsacceleratornetwork@gmail.com or 08033599492. For news coverage or press releases, call 08022717838.