A collage photo of Access Bank logo and MD, Roosevelt Ogbonna
By Shade Damiro
Customers of one of Nigeria’s leading lenders, Access Bank, are scared stiff that their deposits may no longer be safe as their deposits are being tampered with.
Some of the customers have narrated harrowing tales of unauthorized deductions from their accounts.
The latest is Babalola Martins, a Lagos based entrepreneur, who’s literally shouting from the roof top In frustration.
He narrated how $23.70 was illegally debited from his company’s Access Bank domiciliary account without his consent.
This is even as FIJ had earlier reported how $13.89 was fraudulently debited from the same account without his authorisation on September 20, 2024 calling in question the safety of depositors.
While speaking to FIJ on Friday morning, Martins said the latest unauthorised deduction impacted his account on October 5.
“What do we call this? Is this not another case of fraud? Why should my hard-earned money keep disappearing from my Access Bank USD account?” Martins asked during the telephone interview.
The Debit Alert Martins Received on October 5
“I received a notification that $23.70 had been debited from the account on October 5, and it was without my authorisation.
“This came as a shock because I am currently still in the middle of getting Access Bank to refund the first $13.89 that had been deducted from the same account without my approval and knowledge on July 29.”
Martins also said that he subsequently sent emails and paid physical visits to Access Bank branches so that both sums could be reversed.
“All Access Bank officials keep telling me is that they are working on my complaint and would provide me with feedback as soon as possible,” said Martins.
“These deductions are no longer making any sense to me. First, it was $13.89 and now this? No! Both sums have to be reversed to my account.
“I have also never been careless with my USD debit card. I suspect the fraud to be an inside job. To clear all doubts, I have also requested that the debit card be blocked.
“However, my monies must still be reversed to my account. One should be able to trust one’s bank with one’s money.”
Martins added that the only response he got from Access Bank was a complaint form that was sent to him to fill.
“I was only sent a complaint form to fill by the bank this morning. I guess they only decided to do that after you (FIJ) contacted them.
“It is not as if I have never filled this kind of form in the past. I filled out the same form when the first $13.89 was debited from my account, and nothing was done to reverse it.
“I hope they do the needful on this second form. I am hopeful.”
NATIONAL WAVES sent an inquiry to Mr. Olakunle Aderinokun, Head of Media and Public Relations at Access Corporation over the development. He said he would revert but yet to state the bank’s side of the story as at the time of filling this report.
