By Samuel Godspower
Monday, November 25, 2024
Access Bank PLC has strongly denied allegations of missing funds following accusations of unethical practices and a N500 million discrepancy in a customer’s account.
In a statement released on Sunday, the bank described the claims as “baseless” and assured its customers of the safety and security of their funds, which it reaffirmed as a core operational priority.
The allegations surfaced over the weekend when a social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, accused Access Bank of withholding N500 million allegedly belonging to the family of a deceased customer.
According to Mr Otse, the deceased had informed his family of the funds he held in multiple bank accounts, including one with Access Bank containing the disputed sum. However, the family reportedly discovered the money missing when they attempted to access the account.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr Otse questioned discrepancies in the bank statements provided. “My first question to Access Bank, why did the bank statement skip from 2016 to 2020? Where is the statement of 2017, 2018, and 2019?” he wrote, adding that the family’s representative would escalate the matter further.
Access Bank, in its statement, categorically denied the claims, stating, “There is no N500 million or any other amount missing from the subject customer’s account or any other customer’s account with us.”
The bank revealed that it had conducted a thorough investigation in collaboration with independent stakeholders in the banking industry and found no evidence to support the allegations.
“Access Bank PLC operates with the highest ethical standards. We protect our customers’ interests whilst also respecting privacy laws,” the statement added. The bank urged the public not to rely on unverified claims designed to mislead.