Some customers of Ecobank Nigeria on Monday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, protested the alleged withdrawal of millions of naira from their accounts without their consent.
They told South-East PUNCH that they were shocked when they started receiving unauthorized debit alerts from their bank on October 21.
They averred that they neither initiated the transactions nor authorized them.
All of them told Okeomanews that had lodged complaints at various branches of the bank without getting their monies refunded to them.
They said that their Automated Teller Machine cards and phones they normally used for mobile transactions with the bank were intact when their monies were taken from their accounts.
One of them said, “My name is Monday Mbakwe, with account number 2352155512 in Ecobank. I received an unauthorized withdrawal of N866,000 at once on October 21, 2024, using one Kabiru Shaibu of Palmpay with account 9079740689 at 5 pm. I have written letters and they are yet to refund me. I want my money refunded. I have plenty needs for it.”
Another customer said, “My name is Egbuakpo Cynthia Chiamaka, with account number 5831098489 in Ecobank. I received withdrawal notifications of N130,000 and N9,900 for call credit in two tranches on October 21, 2024, at 7:31 pm and 7:32 pm, respectively, through moneymaster with account number 1500162112 and the name is Namakka Malami. For the airtime, the phone number was 09060292315. I have lodged complaints and my money is yet to be refunded me. That is my hard-earned money. It is my hard-earned salary and I need it to be refunded immediately because I am a civil servant.
Another customer also had his tale of woes. He said, “My name is Ezeji Uchuchukwu Nwadiogo, with account number 2742047425 in Ecobank. A total withdrawal of N1,645,000 in nine tranches of N500,000, N400,000, N99,000, N50,000 call credit, another N50,000 call credit, N200,000, N142,000, N200,000 and N4000 through Bello Sabo of Moniepoint and Ugochukwu Sylvernus Okongwu. The airtime was for 08148064565 and was made on October 21. I have lodged complaints with the bank, but my money is yet to be refunded to me. I need it refunded immediately because I didn’t initiate the transactions.”
Another customer said, “My name is Ibewuike Chidinma Nkechinyere, with account number 2351113025 with Ecobank. Withdrawals of N300,000 and N89,000 on October 21 at 9:44 pm to Aigbedion Christopher of Judah Microfinance Bank account number 2071978774 were made from my account by the bank. I didn’t authorize those transactions. I have made several complaints and my money is yet to be refunded to me. I need it immediately because it is the money I had budgeted for the renewal of my house rent. Ecobank, please refund me my money. I didn’t authorize the transaction and my ATM card is not missing.”
Egbuakpo Christian Ikechuwu with account number 3641086296 in Ecobank said, “A total withdrawal of N740,000 in four tranches of N200,000, N559,000, through account details of Mike Oziegbe and Anieti Daniel Jumbo and Innocent Itua Obiyan. They credited me N200,000 through Anieti Daniel Jumbo and immediately withdrew it through Innocent Itua Obiyan. They credited 19,000 through Anieti Daniel Jumbo and immediately withdrew it through Innocent Itua Obiyan. They credited N19,000 through Innocent Itua Obiyan and immediately withdrew it. I need my money refunded to me immediately.”
An inquiry sent to Ecobank customer care service by our correspondent was yet to be responded to at the time of filing this report.