Mutiu Arojo, an Abuja-based businessman, has narrated how Access Bank told him he was charmed after N1.7 million left his account.

Arojo told FIJ the money was debited from his account while his debit card was stuck in one of the bank’s automated teller machines (ATMs) in Dei Dei Market, Abuja.

“On July 28, I was at the Access Bank branch to make some withdrawal,” he told FIJ.

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“The machines were not dispensing, and I kept trying them one after the other because I needed cash.”

Arojo said on his last attempt, his debit card got stuck in the machine and before he could reach the officials to complain, he began to receive debit alerts.

“I moved to the fourth machine, but my card got stuck while I attempted to withdraw,” he told FIJ.

 “While I was still there pondering what to do, my account was emptied in tranches of N370,000, N400,000, N500,000, and another N500,000.”

The businessman said he immediately went into the banking hall to complain but was told he might have been charmed.

“I went into the banking hall to complain to the officials but they said I must have compromised my details,” said Arojo.

“They said the person behind me must have peeped at my card details. I asked to see the CCTV footage, and when I did, the person was in no way close to me.

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“When I insisted that none of what they suggested happened, they concluded that I must have been charmed.

“How would the person behind me use my debit card details while still stuck in their machine? And how do you explain to the government that you were charmed? It’s all illogical!

Arojo explained that after mounting pressure on the bank, they told him his money was transferred to Moniepoint.

“When I didn’t stop disturbing Access Bank, they told me my money was transferred into Moniepoint. I have never heard of such, and neither do I know them,” he said.

“The N1.7 million was for a contract I got a day before the incident. My life has been in turmoil since it happened.”

The Abuja resident said he reported the incident to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) but got no response.

“In August, I reported to the CBN but didn’t get a response. I also sent a reminder on November 24, all to no end.

“My life is in distress and I just want a refund.”

FIJ’s email to Access Bank on Friday morning was yet to be responded to at press time.