One of the leading insurance companies in Nigeria, AIICO Insurance Plc, is struggling to recoup the whopping sum of N73, 380 million, belonging to its policyholders, but allegedly defrauded by one of its marketing officers, Chidinma Kalu.
The Marketing Officer, it was learnt, defrauded the firm’s policyholders of the said sum, through electronic means. She was alleged to have received the sums from policyholders under the pretence of investing the monies in a Single Premium Policy and Life Insurance Policy.
The Marketing Officer who worked at both Ikeja and Lagos Island branches of the insurance firm, was alleged to have manipulated and tempered AIICO’s data base and computer devices, to commit the monumental fraud.
It was further learnt that upon the discovery of the fraud, the Marketing Officer, became evasive, and the matter was reported at Lagos State Police Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti-Yaba, Lagos, whose operatives after sting operation, apprehended her.
Consequently, upon her arrest and conclusion of the the investigation, she was charged to a Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.
However, while the matter was withdrew from the magistrate court, a 15 count-charge was filed against her before a Lagos Federal High Court.
Meanwhile, the Marketing Officer, Chidinma Kalu, was arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, last Tuesday, on a 15 count-charge of conspiracy, forgery and cybercrimes and fraud of N73, 380, 000 million, before Justice Friday Ogazi.
The prosecutor, Barrister Joseph Ebosereme, while arraigning the defendant, informed the court that she committed the alleged crimes between the year 2018 and the month of May, 2023.
The prosecutor told the court that the Marketing Officer conspired with some others now at large to commit the offences.
He told the court that the Marketing Officer illegal acts contravened sections 27, 14(2), 33 (1) 17(3), 36(2), of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention ETC ) Act Laws of 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 amongst yourself to commit felony to wit; manipulating of computer devices, TAMPERING OF AiiCO Insurance Data Base 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 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 lost 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 Data base 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 between the year 2018 and the month of May, 2023 while in the employment of AIICO Insurance Company Plc as marketer at Ikeja area of Lagos and Island area of Lagos in the Federal High Court Lagos Judicial division with intent to defraud sent message to one OKWUMA IKENNA THADEUS electronically that he had been insured into single premium policy with AIICO Insurance Company whereby he transferred the sum of Ten Million Naira (N10, 000; 000; 00) to AIICO account a presentation you know to be false Which cost financial damage to AIICO Insurance Company Plc contrary to and punishable under section 14 (2) 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 pic as marketer at Ikeja area of Lagos and ISLAND Area of Lagos, within the Federal High Court Lagos Judicial Division fraudulently redirect 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 2019 and May 2023 while in the employment of AllCO Insurance Company Plc as marketer at Ikeja area of Lagos and Island area of Lagos, within the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division fraudulently redirect 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.”
The defendant denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge.
Following her not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for a trial date, and also urged the court to remand her at the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) facility, till the determination of the charge.
But lawyer to the Marketing Officer, P. O. Ogunnubi, informed the court that he had filed his client’s bail application and same has been served on the prosecutor, adding that his client was formerly charges before a magistrate court in Lagos before been brought to court for another charge on the same matter.
H,e therefore, urged the court to admit his client to the most liberal terms, saying that his client has never for once jump bail while standing trial of the matter at the lower court.
In his ruling on the bail application, Justice Ogazi admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety in like sum.
The judge ordered that the sureties could be either a Civil servant in Grade Level 12 and above or a landed property owner with Certificate of Occupancy, adding that the surety must submit their two passports photograph and evidence of tax payment.
The judge, while adjourning the matter to May 29, for trial, ordered that the defendant be remanded in NCoS’ custody till when she is able to meet the bail terms.
