28th July, 2010
An insurance agent, Charles Okorodudu, 34 with the American International Insurance (AIICO) PLC, has been arrested by the police at the Bar Beach Police Station, Lagos, Nigeria for allegedly forging Okorodudu Global Sports Ltd. letterhead paper to defraud Ohaegbulem Cosmos Papillo of N70,000.
He was alleged to have collected the money on the pretext of issuing him life policy with AIICO, a claim he knew to be false.
The suspect was also accused of forging a Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, document with reference number Sub/LASUTH/302, dated 17 April, 2009 entitled: Re-one Roland O. Abrifor. Verication of Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, purported to have been signed by one Mrs. E. Y. Adeyemi, Chief Medical Director and Dr. A. Olaosebikan to claim the life policy insurance claims of one Roland Abrifor from AIICO Insurance Plc.
Police investigation revealed that the suspect introduced the two complainants to AIICO to perfect their life insurance policy and was paid N200,000 as his agent fee.
The suspect was said to have returned to the company and claimed that the two people had died in a motor accident and that the families of the deceased had mandated him to collect their claims which the management disputed.
Nemesis caught up with the suspect when he went to AIICO headquarters on Victoria Island, Lagos with forged documents, including birth certificate, corpse release form issued by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, police report on the false death of Roland O. Abrifor Oke and Okorodudu David Iniwore, to claim millions of naira.
The company invited the police after disowning the documents and discovering the people he claimed were dead are still alive.
He was arrested and arraigned before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court on an eight-count charge to commit felony, to wit, forgery, fraud and stealing, an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 516, 467(L), 390 and 509 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C.17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and the magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter.
—Paul Iyoghojie