Adam Idakwo, an Abuja-based clergyman, has narrated how Zenith Bank refused to pay a $2,400 refund initiated by a foreign institution to his wife’s account.

The clergyman told FIJ that the American University of St. Vincent’s School of Medicine, the initiating institution, transferred $2,400 to his wife’s Zenith Bank account on April 4, 2022, but Zenith Bank would not allow the sum get to its intended destination.

Idakwo said that the university decided to transfer the sum to him as a refund after he wrote to the school to decline the admission it had initially offered his daughter.

He said he took the step because another foreign institution had already offered her admission.

According to Idakwo, the university processed the refund request by transferring $2,400 to his wife’s account after deducting a penalty charge of $1,345. The institution also sent a transfer receipt to his wife after the transaction had been completed.

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Idakwo said he had hoped he would be able pay his daughter’s tuition at the other foreign institution with the refund but Zenith Bank would not release it.

“We went to the Zenith Bank branch at the K-City Branch, Aminu Kano Crescent in Abuja, to lodge a complaint and the official that attended to us said we needed to present all evidence to show that the initial transaction was processed by the bank,” Idakwo said.

“He also requested for evidence to show that the money had been refunded by the institution and we did that.

“One year has passed since the university sent the money but Zenith Bank has not given us our money. Zenith Bank said they would go to Citibank to track the money, but nothing has been done. No evidence. I am tired of explaining. I reached out to the school on several occasions and they have continued to say the money has been sent.”

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According to Idakwo, Zenith Bank has insisted on seeing a telex copy from the school to verify that the money had been sent.

“Zenith Bank has continued to hold on to our money despite showing its officials the receipt the school had sent to us,” Idakwo said.

“It is now more than a year. I don’t think this is fair.”

When FIJ sent a mail to Zenith Bank for comments on the issue on September 13, Shotayo Esther, the bank’s official who responded to the mail, redirected this reporter to the Abuja branch the clergyman had been visiting on the issue.

No response had been issued six days after the bank’s K-City branch, located on Aminu Kano Crescent, Abuja, was contacted on the matter.