Kelechi Okoye, a Lagos State-based air travel agent, has narrated how United Bank for Africa (UBA) withheld a N500,000 transfer she made through a business account she runs with the financial institution.
Okoye told FIJ that she made the transfer to a Fidelity Bank account belonging to Air Peace Airline on May 2.
“Since making the transfer, the recipient has not received the money. I’ve written to UBA on several occasions to let them know that the money did not get to the recipient, and that they would have to reverse my money, but till we speak, they have refused to return the money to my business account,” said Okoye.
“On the same day, that is May 2, I initiated another N500,000 payment from my Access Bank account to the same Fidelity Bank account and it was successful.
“UBA did not initially respond to my mails, but at a point, they issued a response claiming that the money did get to the Fidelity Bank account I had sent the sum to.
“When I reached out to Air Peace, the recipient, they checked my payment records with them and were able to establish the fact that the only amount they received from me for that day was the transfer I made from my Access Bank account.
The transaction reference on the recipient’s statement also tallied with the reference generated from the transaction I made using my Access Bank account.
“They also sent me evidence to back their claim up. There was no proof to show that the money ever got to the Fidelity Bank account from UBA.”
When FIJ sent an email to UBA’s customer care department for a response to Okoye’s complaint on Monday morning, one of the bank’s representatives, who simply identified herself as Olawumi, said that the transaction was successful.
“Please be informed that our settlement reports confirm that the transaction was successful to the beneficiary,” wrote Olawumi.
“Kindly be advised to contact the beneficiary to confirm the status of the transaction or please revert with the beneficiary’s statement of account to enable us further assist.”
UBA’s claim was subsequently refuted by Okolie.
“Kindly note that the response is a hogwash. The recipient is Air Peace, and they have confirmed time and again that the money didn’t get to them,” Okolie insisted.
“I have attached evidence and even sent the response from Air Peace to UBA. The money didn’t get to them (Air Peace). UBA is with the money.”
A text message Trail Reporters sent to Nasir Ramon, UBA’s head of corporate communications, was not responded to, 4days after it was sent for his reaction.
