UBA returns customers’ stolen N106m as public outrage heightens

 

Maureen Aguta

 

As Nigerians from different works of life continue to express outrage over the alleged disappearance of a diaspora customer’s N106 million from his UBA account, many have expressed fear over the safety of depositors’ funds in UBA, even as they called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to step in and launch a probe into the incident.

“The EFCC must immediately investigate and summon bank executives to explain how unauthorized persons forged legal documents, declared a living man dead, and cleared his life savings,” they said.

Advocacy Times reports that the diversion of the customer’s funds in the Tony Elumelu’s bank, is believed to be an insider job, and was carried out with ‘Oluwole’, fake death documents.

Human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the United Bank for Africa over the sudden disappearance of its customers N106 million.

The controversy erupted just weeks after the Lagos State Police Command arrested four UBA officials for allegedly stealing £138,924 (over ₦270 million) from international airlines’ accounts.

According to police investigations, the suspects had reportedly conspired to siphon funds from domiciliary accounts into private accounts and later redistributed them to multiple beneficiaries.

Recall that Ibhahe Hope Ehieribo, a Nigerian returnee had accused the lender of illegally clearing over a million naira from his account, allegedly based on claims that he had died while living abroad.

Ehieribo had disclosed that the incident occurred in 2023 while he was still residing overseas. He explained that he had been saving consistently into his UBA account, making deposits multiple times each year.

However, upon his return to Nigeria, Ehieribo was stunned to learn from bank officials that his entire savings had been withdrawn. The funds, he was told, had been accessed by individuals who claimed he had passed away and was already buried.

The returnee recounted that when he visited the bank to demand clarification, police officers were already on standby, allegedly to arrest him for causing a disturbance. He insisted that he merely raised his voice in shock and frustration after learning that his life savings had vanished.

Gwamnishu, had described the development as a clear violation of the customer’s rights and has vowed to take legal action against the financial institution.

He later disclosed that the bank headquarters reached out to him and assured that it was on the issue.

“UBA headquarters have reached out. Let me sit and do a video update. UBA is utterly confused and shouting in dismay. The man’s wife resides abroad, and he does not have sisters. The beneficiaries of his over 100 million naira are Patience and Precious. My man does not know any of them.

“UBA bank reached out and they assured they are on his matter. It will interest you to know that before the money was awarded to unknown recipients, they obtained a Death certificate of a living being and went to probate at the high court to obtain a court order.

“Currently, the name the bank officials mentioned to us were the recipient, the victim, doesn’t know them. Please tag Central Bank of Nigeria and UBA Group.

“The bank will be held liable. They know what happened,” the activist claimed.

Meanwhile, giving further update on the matter on Monday, Gwamnishu revealed that UBA had returned the money to the victim but failed to give the identities of those who allegedly forged Ehieribo’s death certificate and wiped out the money.

The activist, consequently, asked the EFCC to step into the matter to unravel the circumstances and those involved in the disappearance of the money before it was retrieved and that failure of the back to speak on those involved indicated that something was amiss.

Disclosing that the exact sum of N106, 309,534.87 was refunded to Ehieribo’s account by UBA on Monday morning, Gwamnishu said the bank should acknowledge its error and reveal those involved.

“This morning, our overseas client, whose funds exceeding N100m were transferred from his account, has recovered his full amount today.

“I previously reported that the bank informed the customer that certain individuals presented documents claiming he was deceased and buried. Consequently, the bank transferred the funds from his savings account to an estate account that was opened.

“We await the bank’s acknowledgment of their error and disclosure of those involved in this illicit activity within the bank. Is bank staff involved? They need to tell us.

“I expect the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to promptly investigate and summon the bank executives to explain how unauthorized individuals forged court documents, declaring a living person deceased and clearing his life savings.

“Nigerians, thank you for standing with Hope Ehieribo. We have achieved a positive outcome, but we still require answers,” he said.

Speaking in a video, Ehieribo said he received the money and thanked Nigerians for their efforts.