A Nigerian catchment scientist living in England has accused First Bank of frustrating his efforts to retrieve his N124,510.

The scientist, who asked to remain anonymous, told FIJ that after he contacted the bank through their mobile number and email address several times, they started giving him inconsistent reasons why they had not refunded his money.

He said the issue started on December 13, 2022, after he paid for a flight from Abuja to Lagos using Aero Contractors.

According to the scientist, the transaction was unsuccessful on the first and second attempts.

READ ALSO: First Bank ‘Can’t Trace’ N83,000 Fraudulently Deducted From Customer’s Account

After the second trial, the scientist said, he realised First Bank had debited him twice for the same service.

“When I called Aero Contractors to inform them of what had just happened, they gave me a manual ticket for one transaction. I asked for a refund immediately, but they asked me to contact First Bank, my bank, which I did immediately,” the scientist told FIJ.

That same day, the scientist told First Bank via a phone call they had debited him twice, but the call representative who answered him said that there was a lien on the account involved.

She also that the bank would refund the money to his account within three to seven days, but until now, First Bank has not credited the scientist.

The scientist said he sent the CFR number Aero Contractors gave him to First Bank via email and mobile calls on the company’s suggestion so the bank could refund him quickly.

READ ALSO: Policewoman’s N50,700 Still With First Bank 2 Months After Dispense Error

“A few days later, I called First Bank to find out what was going on, but they said the lien was still in place and that they were working on it,” he said.

“But this time, they said it would take seven days for the money to be reversed. That day, I wrote them a letter, and they said there was no lien on my account. That day, they gave me two conflicting reports.

“Between that time and now, we’ve exchanged over 30 emails. I also engaged them on Twitter on December 17, but they kept saying ‘exercise some patience, we’re working on your accounts’ – just as they’d been saying via email.”

When FIJ called First Bank via their mobile number, a call representative identified as Mariam said she would rather the source called himself. At press time, the bank had not responded to an email sent to them.