In a startling revelation, Peter Ezeike, a customer of Ecobank, has accused the bank of orchestrating the theft of N3,755,000 from his savings account between 2018 and 2019. Ezeike, a resident of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 2017, returned to Nigeria in 2021 only to discover the significant financial loss.
The unauthorized transactions occurred while Ezeike was abroad, with deposits and withdrawals taking place without his knowledge. Suspiciously, a payment of N100,000 was made to an unfamiliar name, Aderinoye A. Quazeem.
Ezeike suspects insider involvement, pointing to his prior relationship with Ibrahim Akeyan, a former Ecobank staff at the Sango Ota branch. He alleges leaving money with Akeyan before relocating to Dubai, creating a potential motive for tampering with his account.
Speaking to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Ezeike said, “Mr. Ibrahim Akeyan was an employee of Ecobank at its Sango Ota branch. We related freely, and he knew my account details. There was never a problem then.” Akeyan, however, denied knowing Ezeike and suggested approaching the bank for any issues.
Upon his return to Nigeria, Ezeike found an insufficient balance in his account and discovered unauthorized transactions at the Idi-Iroko branch. Attempts to clarify the situation were met with complications, with the bank claiming his account was blocked.
An investigation was initiated by the accused branch, but no resolution has been provided. Ezeike reported the suspicious transactions to the branch’s officials, but the situation took an unexpected turn when Ibrahim Akeyan contacted him on his newly acquired Nigerian phone number, raising concerns about the bank’s handling of the case.
Despite scheduled meetings, Akeyan failed to attend any, casting doubt on the bank’s commitment to resolving the issue. The case has reached the bank’s head office, prompting a virtual meeting, but Akeyan’s non-compliance hinders progress, leaving Ezeike in the dark regarding the status of the investigation and funds recovery.
This incident underscores the need for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged misconduct, putting Ecobank under scrutiny for potential internal lapses. As the investigation unfolds, the bank faces growing pressure to address the serious allegations and provide a transparent account of the events surrounding the disappearance of Ezeike’s funds.
