CCB invites NAICOM CEO, others over non-declaration of assets

The Code of Conduct Bureau has invited Commissioner for
Insurance/Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance
Commission, Mohammed Kari, and two other senior officials to
respond to petitions against them on alleged failure to declare
their assets before the CCB, as required by law.

According to copies of the invitation letters which were
obtained by our reporter dated April 8, 2019 the CCB requested Kari
as well as the Deputy Commissioner for Insurance (Technical) Mr
Sunday Thomas; and Deputy Commissioner for Insurance, Finance and
Administration, Mr George Onekhena, to appear before the CCB by
11am, 2pm and 4pm respectively on Thursday (today).

The letter addressed to them individually and containing the
same contents read: “Investigation Activities: Re: Breach of the
Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

One of the letters read in part, “I am directed to refer to the
Bureau’s letter no CCB/HQ/II&M/007/1834, dated 1st April, 2019
on the above stated subject matter, and to inform you of the
scheduled date for your interview as follows: Thursday, 11th April,
2019. Time: 11am prompt (for Kari) Venue: Conference Room, 5th
Floor, Annex 3, Federal Secretariat Complex, Shehu Shagari Way,
Maitama, Abuja.

“The aforementioned schedule supersedes our earlier invitation
for interview on 10th April, 2019. Kindly accept our apologies,
please.”

It was, however, learnt that as of 5pm on Thursday, none of the
officials invited had shown up.

According to a petition written against the NAICOM boss, Kari,
who was appointed by former President, Goodluck Jonathan as Deputy
Commissioner (Technical) on March 31, 2014, failed to declare his
assets.

After the expiration of the tenure of the former Commissioner
for Insurance, he was appointed on July 31, 2015 as Commissioner
for Insurance/CEO by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It was, however, alleged that he again failed to declare his
assets a second time.

NAICOM was established in 1997 by the National Insurance
Commission Act 1997 with responsibility for ensuring the effective
administration, supervision, regulation and control of insurance
business in Nigeria and protection of insurance policyholders,
beneficiaries and third parties to insurance contracts.

The role it plays in regulating insurance is the same role the
Central Bank of Nigeria plays in regulating banking.