COMMISSION HELPS FAMILY RECOVER N18M INSURANCE BENEFITS 8 YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF BREADWINNER

The family of late Mr. Godfrey Eromona has received the sum of eighteen million, four hundred and forty five thousand, one hundred and forty three Naira (N18,445,143.00) from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) being the insurance benefits of the deceased after the next of kin,Mrs. Emudia Eromona and her lawyers petitioned the Public Complaints Commission.

In a petitioned lodged at the Lagos Office of the Commission on 4th December, 2012 by the Chambers of Obiefule M. Ogbonna & Co on behalf of Mrs. Eromona, who is also the Administrator to the Estate of Late Godfrey Eromona, they alleged that Late Godfrey Eromona worked for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Warri, Delta state for 20 years before his death in 2005. They further alleged that "his personal insurance benefits, being the total contributions and deductions made from his salaries over the years by NNPC and its official insurers" has not been paid, noting that they have written the Management of NNPC twice in 2010 demanding that the money be paid to his next of kin but both replies from NNPC merely assured them that they have "commenced investigations and the outcome of it will be communicated to them". Two years after, they failed to hear from the Corporation thus prompting them to approach the Public Complaints Commission for assistance.

 Due to the proximity of the FCT's office of the Commission to the corporate Headquarters of NNPC, the petition was transferred to the FCT office. On receiving the case from our Lagos Office, the FCT Commissioner, Hon. Obunike Ohaegbu directed that on-the-spot investigations be conducted to ascertain facts of the matter. It was on the conclusion of the investigations that it was discovered that Late Eromona's insurance benefit is yet to be paid to his next of kin. The Hon. Commissioner further directed that the management of the NNPC be written, requesting them to pay the deceased next of kin, his due entitlements.

Months of exchanging correspondences yielded results as the Corporation's Secretary wrote the Commissioner on 10th July,2013 to inform him that Late Eromona's entitlements, totalling the sum of eighteen million, four hundred and forty five thousand, one hundred and forty three Naira (N18,445,143.00) has been paid into the First Bank of Nigeria account held by the deceased next of kin, attaching a copy of the payment slip.