The Nation Newspaper

Tag: claims’

  • SA Insurance pays N566.65m claims

    Standard Alliance Insurance Plc paid N566.65 million claims in the first quarter of the year, the Group Managing Director, Bode Akinboye, said.

    A breakdown of the payment shows that the firm paid N278.64milion while its life subsidiary, Standard Alliance Life Assurance Ltd, paid N288.01 million.

    The claims were paid on fire, marine, motor, oil and gas, general accident and engineering classes of general insurance as well as the group and individual life policies.

    He further said a total consolidated  N719.56million was paid as claims to affected general and life policyholders during the period in 2014.

    He said:  ‘’We recognise that the survival or acceptance, progress and reputation of any underwriting company are a function of its consistent ability to respond to claims issues promptly and that is why we give any claims reported all the prompt attention to the satisfaction of our affected policyholders.

    “The company’s ability to settle claims to the tune of N566.65million at a time the insurance business patronages were not impressive owing to the nation’s focus on the general electioneering activities “clearly demonstrates the organisation’s financial strength to manage any size of risk brought to it by the insuring public at any time.

    Some of the major beneficiaries of the claims settlement, according to him, included Karina International Limited, Compact Manifold & Energy Services, Eagle Haulage Nig. Ltd, St. Paul’s Church, Hydrochina Huadong Engineering and DSC International.

    According to Akinboye, these were part of outstanding claims prior to the assumption of duties by the new management last January, noting: “These claims response underscores the passionate commitment of the company’s new management team to aggressively pay down all claims that were hitherto unattended to.”

    He however said the company has employed Olukolajo Ezekiel to handle its underwriting and claims.

  • Farah claims rival Vernon said he was not European

    Farah claims rival Vernon said he was not European

    Mo Farah has escalated his public row with Andy Vernon by claiming the bad blood between the pair dates back to an accusation his British team-mate made that Farah was “not European”.

    Britain’s two leading long-distance runners were involved in a heated exchange on Twitter earlier this week when Farah labelled Vernon an “embarrassment” as the pair traded verbal blows.

    Explaining that they are “not best friends and never will be”, Somali-born Farah revealed on Friday that the animosity dates back to a dig Vernon made about his nationality after the pair had completed a 10,000m British one-two at the European Championships in 2014.

    “He came second in the race I won, we were sitting down together and there were a number of staff and athletes there too,” said Farah.

    “One comment he made,which I didn’t really like,was to say that he should have won the gold.

    “I was like: ‘What, the gold should have been given to you?’ And I was like: ‘Because he was the only European guy?’

    “You can’t say something like that. I was just biting my tongue at the time. That hurt me.”

    Farah, who has won two Olympic and three world titles since moving to Britain aged eight, completed a 5,000m and 10,000m European double in Zurich with Vernon picking up medals behind him on both occasions.

    Admitting he did make a comment about being European champion, Vernon explained: “I said it on a table full of people and we were all having a joke at the time.

    “We had just raced and the team was all in high spirits. The whole table was having a joke and a laugh and it was just a comment to carry on the jokes. He laughed at the time.

  • Hamilton claims British Grand Prix

    Hamilton claims British Grand Prix

    Lewis Hamilton recovered from sixth on the grid to win the British Grand Prix in front of his home crowd at Silverstone.

    There was drama in just the first lap when Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa of Williams collided, which resulted in the race being stopped for an hour while the necessary repairs were made to the barriers and debris was cleared from the track.

    Hamilton maintained his composure, though, as he moved through the field, before he eventually claimed the lead from his teammate Nico Rosberg during the 29th lap.

    Then, just one lap later, Hamilton tightened his grip on first place when championship leader Rosberg was forced to withdraw from the race because of a mechanical problem.

    When Hamilton took the chequered flag,he did so with a 30-second lead over Valtteri Bottas, who claimed second spot, while Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo took third place.

    The outcome means that Hamilton is now just four points shy of Rosberg in the standings.

  • UEFA Cup claims two in Lagos

    Two supporters of Real Madrid Football Club of Spain have died on Lagos Island after slumping during last Saturday’s UEFA Championship final match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

    It was gathered that the incident happened when Real Madrid was yet to equalise the one goal first scored by Atletico Madrid before the full time of 90 minutes.

    Real Madrid eventually won the march by four goals to Atletico Madrid’s one, but both victims did not live to witness the celebrations.

    The deceased, Mr Olusoga Ogunbanjo (39), a refrigerator technician at 23A, Smith Street, off Evan Street, Lagos Island, and Mr Bambo Sholeye (42), a Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA)  worker of 49/51, Apatira Street, off Olushi Street, also on Lagos Island, were die-hard supporters of the team.

    Ogunbanjo, popularly addressed as Soga by friends, went to shave at a saloon on Okepopo Street, off Olushi Street and decided to watch the match there with other fans.

    The shop’s owner, Danku said: “Soga came to shave and after shaving, he decided to watch the UEFA championship match between Real and Atletico Madrid. When it was 90 minutes and Real Madrid had not levelled up with the one goal deficit, there was tension among fans who feared that Real Madrid had lost the match.

    “It was a boy sitting beside Soga who saw him slumping who raised the alarm. We quickly rushed him to the Emergency Section of the Lagos General Hospital where he was confirmed dead by doctors on duty.”

    Sholeye, who watched the match at a nearby shop, had left the place in frustration after regulation time, lamenting the failure of Real Madrid to equalise the lone goal scored by Atletico Madrid in the first half of the match.

    His relatives said angry Sholeye brought out a chair in front of his house to relax and suddenly slumped.

    Family members and neighbours rushed him to the General Hospital but they were told he had died.

    One of his neighbours said: “What manner of life is this? Soga has left a wife and two children to suffer just because of his love for Real Madrid Football Club, a club that does not know if he exists or not. It is so painful that he died for nothing. I pity his family. He just wasted his life.”

    Their remains were buried yesterday morning at a public burial ground in the area by their relatives and friends.

  • Group refutes claims by Fayose aides

    Group refutes claims by Fayose aides

    The National Coordinator of Democracy Vanguard (DV) Mr. Adeola Soetan, has refuted the claim by the Director of Information, Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, Mr. Gboyega Aribisogun, that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is training fake electoral observers.

    In a statement, he said the false alarm that the party was training  fake observers on the group’s was misleading.

    He said: “Ordinarily, we would not have dignified such balderdash and tissue of lies with a response, but, for the sake of some gullible people, who might be infectious consumers of this mendacious allegation.”

    Soetan explained that DV, a nonpartisan, nonpolitical organ-isation, has no political relationship with political parties, and candidates.

    He added that the aim of DV is to mobilise the electorate for the full participation in elections, defend the sanctity of elections and entrench the inalienable rights of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders.

    Soetan said: “Contrary to the shameless fabrication that DV members were being clandestinely trained as fake election monitors by APC as alleged by Gboyega Aribisogun, the Director of Information, Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisa-tion, we hasten to say that election monitoring is least considered and not on our priority list.

    “The sanctity of electoral processes leading to election is of more significant to us for now. Our members and volunteers in Ekiti State are daily campaigning in nooks and crannies of the state on voters’ education and interfacing with election managers to guarantee free and fair election in the state.”

    He challenged the Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisa-tion to report any act that is capable of endangering free and fair election to law enforcement agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), if it was sure of the spurious allegation.

     

  • 2014 Belgian Open: Chukwumerije claims gold medal

    2014 Belgian Open: Chukwumerije claims gold medal

    Nigeria’s pedigree in taekwondo received a boost at the weekend when Team Nigeria taekwondo captain to the 2011 All Africa Games, Uche Perez Chukwumerije clinched a gold medal at the 25th Belgian Opens.

    The tournament, which is a Grade One World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)-sanctioned competition has athletes across the globe competing to amass points for their world rating.

    Uche Perez is the brother and mentor to triple Olympian, Chika Chukwumerije, whose engagement with the National Youth Team to the 2014 Junior World Championships in Chinese Taipei, caused Chika to miss the opportunity to gain vital ranking points alongside his older brother.

    To win the gold, Uche defeated Rob Van Der Ploeg of Netherlands 2-1 in a terse opening bout, defeated Josip Mara of Croatia 14-2 in the semifinals, before completing the trilogy by flooring Hicham Massaoudi of Germany 4-1 in a very tactical final.

    The current All Africa gold medalist, whose current World ranking as of February 2014, is 33, has earned a valuable 10 points that would impact positively on his world ranking which is due to be released this week.

    He needs to be top 31 in the world to be eligible to compete at the Grand Prix Series, an exclusive Tournament series reserved for the World’s top 31 athletes in the eight weight categories. Top six qualifies automatically for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

    Speaking from the Topsporthall Vlaanderen Arena in Zuiderlaan, Gent, Belgium, the African middleweight champion spoke of his delight at winning his first competitive championship since his last outing at the 2013 World Taekwondo Championships in Mexico.

    “I am happy that I won. This was my first competition since the World Championships last year, so I was a bit nervous. It is very important that I got some world ranking points. It is good for Nigeria and increases our chances for RIO 2016 Olympics. I hope I can repeat the same feat next weekend at the German Opens, next month at the African Senior Championships and at other tournaments scheduled for me this year.

    “Hopefully, I would earn enough points to break into the Top 30 ranking this year,” Uche said.

    He noted the importance of going for international competitions to earn world ranking points.

    “The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) led by George Ashiru, has encouraged and mandated elite athletes to earn points, while the NTF focuses on developing young athletes. Hence, my focus in 2014 is on earning those important points and fine-tuning my competitive skills, so I can be in prime shape by 2015, which is a key year for Elite athletes,” he added.

  • Snipers: Security widens probe of Obasanjo’s claims

    Snipers: Security widens probe of Obasanjo’s claims

    Security agencies are probing former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim that about 1,000 Nigerians have been placed under watch by the Federal Government, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The probe, which is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), may be extended to similar allegations raised by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a source said.

    Besides, members of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have started consultations on how to approach the petition sent to the commission by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    A source said the commission would follow the rules of procedures in treating Jonathan’s petition.

    All security agencies are involved in the probe of the allegation of training of snipers to deal with 1,000 Nigerians on a watch-list, it was learnt.

    The security agencies were reportedly mandated to go deep into the veracity or otherwise of the allegations.

    A top source said: “I can confirm that investigation of security issues in Obasanjo’s letter, especially the training of snipers, is ongoing.

    “We have resorted to discreet investigation because of the sensitive matters raised in the letter. These are not what you put in the public domain at this initial stage because it might be prejudiced by political consideration.

    “And if you look at the letter, it contained political issues mixed with security concerns. So, we decided to be careful not to play to the gallery because national security is at stake.

    “The proper thing is to conduct an in-depth probe devoid of any political colour because Obasanjo might have some privileged information unknown to the government.

    “And Obasanjo might also be acting on false reports. Yet, we must look at all angles knowing full well that whatever we do today will be on record for the succeeding administrations.”

    Asked how long the investigation will take, the top source replied: “As soon as practicable, but I think within one month, we should go far.

    “In the midst of this probe, some highly-placed Nigerians like Governor Rotimi Amaechi and a former Minister of FCT, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, have declared that they are on the watch-list.

    “We may ask them to oblige us information at their disposal in confidence as responsible citizens.”

    The source said since the President, in a counter-letter, came up with allegation of subversion against Obasanjo, the probe will examine his claim.

    Members of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission following the “weighty” nature of Jonathan’s petition, have been calling for an early meeting this month.

    A source in the Council said the Rules of Procedures would be strictly applied in treating Jonathan’s petition.

    The source said: “Members are eager to meet on Jonathan’s petition because of the public interest attached to it. We have been consulting and we will meet this month.

    “When we meet, we will decide whether or not to raise an adhoc committee to investigate his complaint. The assurance I can give you is that we will follow the Rules of Procedures put in place by the Commission.”

    A copy of the Rules of Procedures was obtained last night by our correspondent.

    Rule 65 of the procedures reads in part: “It shall be the responsibility and function of the Governing Council to decide on petitions, cases and complaints of violations of human rights received from individuals, or other persons, or communities.

    “Council may delegate any of its roles with respect to the preparation, investigation or mediation of complaints to the Executive Secretary or any other person or expert designated by it.

    “The Executive Secretary shall, at each session, present to the Council, a list of all complaints received, the procedures undertaken by the Secretariat, and the proposals or remedies for consideration or decision by the Commission.”

    In his December 3 letter to the President, Obasanjo wrote:

    “Allegation of keeping over 1000 people on political watch list rather than criminal or security watch list and training snipers and other armed personnel secretly and clandestinely acquiring weapons to match for political purposes like Abacha and training them where Abacha trained his own killers, if it is true, it cannot augur well for the initiator, the government and the people of Nigeria.

    “Here again, there is the lesson of history to learn from anybody who cares to learn from history.

    “Mr President would always remember that he was elected to maintain security for all Nigerians and protect them. And no one should prepare to kill or maim Nigerians for personal or political ambition or interest of anyone.

    “The Yoruba adage says: ‘The man with whose head coconut is broken may not live to savour the taste of the succulent fruit.’

    “Those who advise you to go hard on those who oppose you are your worst enemies. Democratic politics admits and is permissive of supporters and opponents.”

    In his reponse on December 22, Dr. Jonathan wrote:

    “The most invidious accusation in your letter is the allegation that I have placed over 1,000 Nigerians on a political watch list, and that I am training snipers and other militia to assassinate people. Baba, I don’t know where you got that from but you do me grave injustice in not only lending credence to such baseless rumours, but also publicising it. You mentioned God 17 times in your letter. Can you as a Christian hold the Bible and say that you truly believe this allegation?

    “The allegation of training snipers to assassinate political opponents is particularly incomprehensible to me.

    “Regarding the over 1,000 people you say are on a political watch list, I urge you to kindly tell Nigerians who they are and what agencies of government are “watching” them. Your allegation that I am using security operatives to harass people is also baseless. Nigerians are waiting for your evidence of proof. That was an accusation made against previous administrations, including yours, but it is certainly not my style and will never be. Again, if you insist on the spurious claim that some of your relatives and friends are being harassed, I urge you to name them and tell Nigerians what agencies of my administration are harassing them.”

  • STI settles N944m claims in six months

    Sovereign Trust Insurance (STI) Plc said it has paid a total of N944.5 million as claims to its customers across the country in the last half of the year.

    The breakdown of the amount paid so far shows that N351million was settled as claims in the first quarter of the year while N593million was paid in the second quarter of the year.

    Managing Director fo the firm, Mr Wale Onaolapo, who disclosed this, said the claims portfolio of the firm in the first half of the year comprise energy claims settled at N401.6million.

    He said while motor insurance claims peaked at N218.4million, fire insurance claims got N83.8million. He said a total of N128.5million was settled as claims under the general accident insurance. Marine insurance claims amounted to N100.4million while engineering insurance claims totalled N11.7million.

    Onaolapo reiterated the commitment of the company to prompt claims settlement adding that it is the only way the company can generate more confidence from its customers and the insuring public at large.

    He said: “Whenever the need arises to settle claims, STI does not see it as doing the customer a favour, rather, we are concerned about making the customer delighted with our seamless claims process which ultimately will lead to customer satisfaction.

    “We are only fulfilling our part of the agreement made at the point of picking up the business that all genuine claims will be settled as and when due.”

  • NEITI’s Report: PPPRA debunks ‘outrageous’ claims

    The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has debunked the audit report of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), which said the agency should remit N4.423 billion to the Federal Government.

    PPPRA’s Executive Secretary Reginald Stanley told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that NEITI’s report “is steeped in inaccuracies and gross misrepresentation of facts”.

    He added: “The report has a glaring potential to mislead the public and further cast aspersions on the activities of the PPPRA as a key administrator of the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF),” Stanley said.

    On July 29, NEITI released its 2009-2011 audit report on the oil and gas sector. It recommended that the PPPRA should remit N4.423 billion, arising from what it called an “over-recovery” collected to the Federation Account for the period in review.

    The report also ordered other establishments to refund some money to the Federal Government.

    “The PPPRA wishes to state unequivocally that the statement credited to the NEITI chairman is misleading and a gross misrepresentation of facts.

    “We note with dismay NEITI’s admission that it had no absolute control of its sources of data as they were derived information and data provided through its own independent auditors as well as companies doing business in the sector.

    “Such over-reliance on secondary data must have accounted for the glaringly flawed computations presented in the report,” the agency said.

    Stanley explained that the N4.423 billion “over-recovery” that the PPPRA was asked to remit was not correct.

    According to him, only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has an outstanding payment of about N3.98 billion to be paid into the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account.

    “The total over-recovery advised for the nine marketers in 2008-2009 amounted to N14,073,783,779.74; the total amount paid to the account with CBN was N6,966,185,316.65, with the sum of N3,126,587,419.98 net-off by the Federal Ministry of Finance.”

    He explained that “the PPPRA does not disburse or ‘warehouse’ subsidy funds as suggested by the report,” stating that the agency only processed documents submitted by marketers for subsidy payments.

    “PPPRA merely verifies and processes import subsidy documents as submitted by marketers, while forwarding same to the Federal Ministry of Finance, which is statutorily charged with the responsibility of approving payments under the PSF scheme.”

    The executive secretary said there was need for NEITI to meticulously cross-check its facts and figures with relevant agencies before making such report public.

    He said it was instructive to note NEITI’s admission of the fact that it had no absolute control of its sources of data, adding: “such a possibly deficient source must have accounted for the glaringly subjective computations presented in the report’’.

    The PPPRA chief said the agency was alarmed to discover that most observations and clarifications earlier made were ignored and not reflected in the final report released to the public.

    “We wish to advise that NEITI takes a second look at our initial observations and clarifications, while reconciling its figures with those of both the PSF and Federation Accounts.”

    Stanley affirmed that there was no discrepancy in PPPRA’s records and the CBN, where the PSF account was domiciled.

    He said the responsibility of payment shifted from PPPRA to the Ministry of Finance, following the introduction of the Sovereign Debt Statement and the Sovereign Debt Note in 2009.

     

     

     

  • Lawal claims bonus row was sabotage

    Lawal claims bonus row was sabotage

    Former Nigeria midfielder Garba Lawal has described last month’s bonus row between the Super Eagles and the NFF as an act of sabotage by the players.

    Lawal has been named in a six-man panel set up by the Sports Ministry to probe the incident and draw up a code of conduct for the national team, but he says the players should have conducted themselves better.

    “As far as I am concerned, their refusal to travel was sabotage. They could have waited and played the competition first before taking such an action. What the players did was not against the NFF, it was against Nigeria. I don’t see anything wrong if the NFF say they don’t have money and want to make some adjustments,” Lawal told KickOffNigeria.com.

    Lawal is no stranger to crisis in the national team, having witnessed his fair share in the heydays of Nigerian football, but he said he and his teammates made sacrifices in the interest of the nation.

    “During the Nations Cup of 2000, the sports minister Damisi Sango came and told us there was no money, and we played all the games for just $2 500. And as I am talking to you now, my flight ticket of $6, 000 that I paid to take part at the Olympic Games in 1996 has still not been paid.

    “These players have to understand that they are playing for the nation. We are not playing anymore, but people remember us, not for the crisis, but because of the glory we got. We all know how the national team helps us at clubs. As a national team player, you need the national team whether you like it or not.”

    The former midfielder warned the players to think about life after their playing careers end.

    “In a few years, they will stop playing and come back home, like us. They must remember that they will come back to this country that they are now holding to ransom to look for jobs, either as coaches or something else.

    “So those who want to play should come and play, and those who don’t want to play because of money should call the coach and tell him no, and give the chance to others to play,” he added.