By Lukman Olabiyi
The Abuja Division of Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal filed by AIICO Insurance Plc over a N500,000 judgment debt awarded against it by Justice M.E. Anenih.
The appellate court affirmed the judgment delivered by Justice M.E. Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, on February 25, 2014, in suit No. CV/225/20212, filed by a policy holder, Mr. Gboyega Bello, against AIICO Insurance Plc.
In the judgment, the trial judge granted all the prayers of the claimant, Bello. However, dissatisfied by the court’s verdict, the respondent, AIICO Insurance Plc, approached the Appeal Court to overturn the ruling. But, in a unanimous decision by the Court of Appeal, the appellate court affirmed the ruling of the trial judge.
The three man panel, led by Justice Peter Chudi Obiorahin, upheld the N500,000 in favour of the policy holder, Mr. Bello, as cost of legal process. Justice Obiorah held that AIICO Insurance’s appeal was statute bound. The other panel members, Justice Okon Abang and Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, also aligned with the lead judgment.