Former NAICOM boss to serve 15years in jail for fraud

A former Commissioner of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, Chief Okechikwu Chukwulozie, is to serve 15 years in jail over N10.4m fraud in a sentence by an Abuja High Court. Consequently, the convict had been moved to Kuje Prison in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

He was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on a five-count charge for using private interest to furnish his official residence and demanding for a percentage in a contract he awarded.

A statement by the commission's Head of Media and Events, Mr. Folu Olamiti, said the convict was in 2007, with his wife, Angela, and a former Deputy Commissioner in charge of Finance and Administration, Adedolapo Ogungbe, were charged to court over  N10.4 million fraud.

In his judgment, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi said the court convicted and sentenced Chukwulozie to three years on each of the five counts, without an option of fine and it will run concurrently.

Oniyangi held that the ICPC had proved all the ingredients of Section 19 of the ICPC Act against him.

The judge said:  'The ICPC has proved beyond reasonable doubt that a commissioner of NICON, Chukwulozie, demanded fifty per cent of fees paid to liquidators of Gateway Insurance Plc.

'Beyond reasonable doubt is the standard of evidence required to validate a criminal conviction. Generally the prosecution bears the burden of proof and is required to prove their case.