Jude Bela, a Nigerian YouTuber, has opened up about a harrowing experience involving the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). According to Bela, the ordeal began in 2019 when his bank accounts were suddenly frozen, leading to a series of unjust arrests and intimidation tactics, including a demand for a $5,000 bribe to restore access to his funds.
Bela’s troubles started unexpectedly when he received a call from UBA, informing him that his accounts had been frozen on the EFCC’s orders. Shocked and confused, he sought clarity but was instead arrested by EFCC agents who later conducted a raid on his residence.
Jude Bela
“They confiscated my documents, laptop, and even information related to my YouTube account without giving any explanation,” Bela said. He was detained under dire conditions for four days before being granted bail.
While detained, Bela alleges that he was approached by EFCC officials who demanded a $5,000 bribe to unfreeze his accounts and drop the investigation. “They treated me like a criminal without any evidence and tried to extort money from me instead of investigating the legitimacy of my income,” he said.
The EFCC claimed that Bela’s account activity appeared suspicious for someone his age. Despite providing documentation to prove his income was generated from YouTube earnings and other legitimate sources, the case dragged on for years.
“The freezing of my accounts crippled my business and personal life,” he lamented. “Instead of protecting customers, UBA Bank enabled this ordeal by cooperating with the EFCC without question.”
This case raises serious concerns about the misuse of authority by regulatory bodies and the role of United Bank for Africa (UBA) a financial institutions in cohort with the EFCC in enabling such practices. For Bela, the psychological, financial, and reputational toll has been immense.
“I will not let this injustice go unnoticed,” he said, calling for accountability and reforms to prevent similar situations from happening to others.
Bela’s ordeal is a cautionary tale for Nigerians about the risks of arbitrary actions by both banks and regulatory bodies. Customers deserve financial institutions that safeguard their interests rather than collaborate in actions that harm them. Until such reforms are in place, Bela’s experience serves as a stark warning to remain vigilant in financial dealings with institutions like UBA.
WATCH FULL VIDEO OF BELA’S ORDEAL BELOW
Source:- ThePressNG