AIICO Insurance Denies Ex-Agent Claims, Files Suit

In Short

• AIICO Insurance Plc says allegations being circulated by a former agent are false.
• The insurer says the ex-agent no longer represents the company.
• AIICO says it has filed a defamation action at the Lagos State High Court and will pursue the matter through due process.

What Happened

AIICO Insurance Plc has pushed back against what it described as a sustained campaign of misleading allegations linked to a former agent, Obinna Adolphus Nwosu.

The company said the claims were sent to a wide list of stakeholders, including regulators, law enforcement, media outlets, bloggers, staff and members of the public.

AIICO said Nwosu’s appointment as an agent was terminated and that he does not represent the insurer in any capacity. It also referenced a public notice it said it published in national newspapers on June 26, 2025, warning customers not to transact with Nwosu on behalf of the company.

AIICO said it would not respond through public back and forth. Instead, it said it has commenced a defamation action, which is a court case over statements that allegedly harm a person or company’s reputation, at the Lagos State High Court.

In its statement, the insurer urged stakeholders to treat the allegations with caution and said it will rely on legal process to resolve the matter.

Why It Matters

For insurance and financial services firms, trust is the product. Public disputes involving agents can affect customer confidence, especially when the claims circulate across social media and informal channels.

The case also highlights a recurring issue in Nigeria’s insurance distribution. Many customers still interact with agents rather than digital self-service channels, so agent conduct, terminations and public notices can have direct impact on policyholders.

If the court action proceeds, it may set expectations for how insurers respond to reputational attacks, and how quickly they move from public statements to litigation and regulatory engagement.