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 Daily Independent Online.
* Monday, July 26, 2004.
Pickpockets
desecrate late Aiico MD’s memorial Service
By Bethel Obioma
insurance
correspondent,
Lagos
The famed
reverence for the dead was not enough to deter three miscreants working
in concert from plying their trade at the memorial service held in honour of late Aiico Insurance Plc managing
director, Mr. Francis Hagerty.
Swinging into action
immediately after the service held at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic
Oratory, 1004 Housing Estate, one of the tricksters, picked the pocket of
Prince Omoregie Akenzua, a director of
Aiico, removing about N19,000 in the process.
The trickster passed the money
to a member of the gang who quickly melted into the crowd. However, luck
ran out on him as eagle-eyed security operatives at the scene witnessed
the transaction and initiated a session of jungle justice on him.
“Oga I no be thief, my
name na Samson Ayorinde, I get barbing salon for Ikeja Allen Avenue, na
my bros I find come this place,” he claimed in response to questions from
his captors.
However, further torturing and
searching led to the discovery of an identity card bearing his picture
and the name, Akinyemi Kehinde, and address, 30 Lagos Road Ikorodu. While
the drama was unfolding, another member of the gang, Ademola Adebola was
apprehended even as he vehemently insisted he was innocent. “Na pass I
dey pass, I no know this man o, and I no be thief…,” he moaned.
Kehinde, despite the ‘mild’
torture insisted he did not have anything to do with Prince Akenzua’s
missing money. The truth was unveiled when the member of the gang who
made away with the money re-appeared, only to be recognised by the
security operatives.
Despite his vehement denials,
the money, now less N500, was found tucked away in his shoes. “ Can you
see that this man actually stole the money, see, I have 37 pieces of N500
that we found in his shoes. He must have thought the coast was clear,”
enthused one of the operatives. The apprehended pickpocket still insisted
he was innocent amid shouts from onlookers that called for their heads.
The three received more beating, following which they were ferried off in
Aiico’s staff bus for
onward transfer to the police, after several appeals from notable
dignitaries that attended the memorial service. The service was attended
by top echelon in the insurance industry, including the Commissioner for
Insurance, Chief Oladipo Bailey. Born on 27th January 1943 in the USA,
Hagerty went to be with the Lord on July 2nd 2004. He was educated as the
famous Catholic University of America, and became the managing
director/chief executive officer of Aiico
Insurance Plc on June 28 2001. He was known for his wide grasp of
life insurance business, and had proven ability in international
insurance marketing, and customer service operations.
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