Published 21st Feb, 2022

By Tola Owoyele

Before traveling to Saudi Arabia in 2018, Saheedat Opaleye, 37, opened a savings account at an Access Bank branch in UCH, Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Opaleye said she opened the account so she could fall back on something on her return to the country. However, she met an empty account after working as a cleaner in Saudi Arabia and saving for three years.

“The reason I opened the account was to save as much earnings into it as possible. To ensure this plan is achieved, I told the bank representative that assisted with the account opening that the maximum withdrawal limit should be N20,000,” Opaleye told FIJ.

“I also did not have an ATM card and a mobile banking app linked to the account, just to make sure I didn’t deviate from the plan.”

Opaleye returned to Nigeria in September 2021, after her visa expired and several attempts to renew it proved unsuccessful.

“I was devastated when I returned only to find out that my account had been emptied. A total of N950,769 had been withdrawn from my account between August 11 and 17, 2020, and without my knowledge,” she said.

“What I also found shocking was that more than N150,000 was withdrawn at one go three times, contrary to the agreement I had with the bank that my withdrawal should be capped at N20,000.

“I also did not receive a single alert or notification all through the period this incident happened. Why did the bank allow this to happen despite the limit that was supposed to be on the account?

“This got me depressed and I almost lost my mind. My family members have been the ones consoling me.

“This is money I toiled day and night for. I worked as a cleaner for this money, hoping I could start a new life with it on my return to Nigeria.”

She also said she had visited the Agodi branch of the bank to register her pain several times. A series of letters of complaints has also been written to the bank by her lawyers, but no favourable response has been received from the bank.

“I suffered a lot before making this money. I went through hell while working as a cleaner so I could gather the money. I want Access Bank to help me get my money back. I am losing my mind already,” said Opaleye.

When FIJ spoke with Emmanuel Adigun, deputy branch manager, Access Bank, Agodi branch, he confirmed that the transactions were indeed unauthorised.

He promised that the complaint would be reviewed and a solution provided as soon as possible.

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