Access Bank Plc don approach Federal High Court wey dey Lagos, seeking order to freeze bank accounts wey dey linked to alleged unauthorised transfer of N1.34 billion from some customers’ accounts. The application wey dem file on August 13, 2026, follow fraud incident wey happen for the bank’s internet banking platform, Access SME App.
According to the bank, dem discover the incident on August 12, 2026, when dem resume operations. The bank don file motion ex-parte, with Suit No. FHC/LAG/CS/1168/2026, against 71 financial institutions and payment service providers. For inside the court document, Access Bank say na N1,340,425,393 wey dem move from four customers’ accounts without authorisation, and dem transfer am to several accounts with Access Bank and other financial institutions.
The affected accounts include MIB TXN Bullion-Aba Branch, where N590,975,889 allegedly leave; AllCO General Insurance Company Limited, with N420,449,504; Apogee Engineering Limited, wey involve N136 million; and Sims Nigeria Limited, wey involve N193 million. The four transactions total N1,340,425,393.
The bank say im internal investigation show say the funds don scatter to many accounts with the bank and the 71 respondent institutions. Access Bank also trace the Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) of the alleged beneficiaries, and identify other accounts wey dey linked to those BVNs. So the bank dey ask the court to order the respondent banks to place post-no-debit (PND) restrictions on the accounts and BVNs, and also make dem disclose any amount wey dem don recover.
According to Access Bank, the restriction go remain pending the determination of the substantive application. The bank also want order for the institutions to watchlist the relevant BVNs and stop any movement of funds until the whole N1.34 billion don recover. Dem also ask court to order reversal of any salvaged funds to Access Bank account.
The bank argue say there is urgent need for the order to preserve the funds and avoid further dissipation. Access Bank say the grant of the application dey necessary to prevent cyber-crime wey fit undermine economic and national interest. The bank undertake to pay damages if the court later find say the order no should don grant. The motion dey come pursuant to Order 26 Rule 6 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, and relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
