Mr. David Chinedu, a bank customer at Access Bank, Ikot Ekpene Road Branch, Ogbor-Hill District, Aba North, has expressed frustration over the loss of his phone and the subsequent unauthorized transfer of funds from his account. The incident reportedly occurred while he was on transit from Zenith Bank located at Eziukwu Road to Faulks Road, all situated within the Aba metropolis.
According to Mr. Chinedu, when he realized his phone was missing, he promptly contacted Access Bank to report the unauthorized transactions. He alleged that the Branch Manager showed a lack of concern and was unhelpful in his efforts to recover the stolen funds, despite bringing the issue to their attention on multiple occasions.
Narrating his ordeal, Mr. David Chinedu shared that he initially approached the Branch Manager over a month ago when he discovered the fraudulent transactions. At that time, he was informed that the transfers were executed using both his Access Bank mobile apps and USSD code. The Branch Manager advised him to report the matter to the police, considering it a criminal offense.
Taking the Branch Manager’s advice, Mr. David Chinedu proceeded to the Ohuru Isimiri Police Station to file a formal complaint. The police inspector handling the case assisted him in obtaining an injunction from the Magistrate Court at Aba North Magisterial District, mandating Access Bank to cooperate with the police investigation and provide details about the fraudsters involved.
However, Mr. Chinedu expressed disappointment at the lack of progress in the case. Despite the court order, the Branch Manager and the bank staff allegedly showed reluctance in accepting the papers, delaying the investigation further.
Mr. David Chinedu has endured significant hardships over the past month, particularly given the prevailing economic challenges in the country. He revealed that he believes many others have been victims of similar fraudulent activities but have chosen to remain silent due to the banks’ perceived unwillingness to address such issues adequately.
The situation highlights the need for banks to take decisive action in dealing with cases of stolen funds and fraud. Victims like Mr. David Chinedu are left to face immense financial and emotional distress, while the perpetrators continue to operate unchecked.
