Access Bank Refutes ₦500 Million Inheritance Fraud Allegation, Labels Claims ‘Untrue and Baseless’

Access Bank PLC has responded to allegations by Nigerian social media activist VeryDarkMan regarding an inheritance dispute involving an alleged ₦500 million fund belonging to a late customer. The bank firmly denied the accusations, calling them “untrue and baseless.”

The controversy, which has sparked widespread public attention, centers on claims that Access Bank failed to release over 500million Naira  belonging to the late Mr. Edongesi Edith Hour, who passed away in 2019 without a will. According to VeryDarkMan, the deceased’s family has been unable to access funds they believe are held in the bank, despite obtaining a Letter of Administration and recovering funds from other banks.

In a statement issued by its management, Access Bank emphasized its commitment to customer security and ethical operations, stating:

”Our attention has been drawn to a video on social media wherein allegations of missing funds and unethical behaviour have been made against Access Bank PLC.

First and foremost, we wish to emphasise that the safety and security of our customers’ funds are core priorities which we take seriously. Second, Access Bank Plc does not engage in or condone any unethical behaviour.

In the instant case, the allegations of missing funds in the Bank are most untrue and baseless.

There is no N500million or any other fund or amount missing from the subject customer’s account or from any other customer’s account with us.

We and other independent stakeholders in the banking industry have thoroughly investigated these allegations and independently arrived at the same conclusions.

Access Bank PLC operates with the highest ethical standards, and we protect our customers’ interests whilst also respecting privacy laws.

Consequently, whilst we have engaged and will continue to engage with our customers, we must advise the public not to rely on or believe sensational and unverified claims that are designed to titillate and mislead the public.

We remain committed to serving our customers.

Thank you.

Management

VeryDarkMan claimed that Access Bank initially denied the existence of the account and later declared it dormant with a balance of 54 kobo. He further accused the bank of withholding complete transaction records and called for a deeper investigation into the matter.

“This is not just about one family. It’s about ensuring that every Nigerian can trust the banking system to safeguard their money for future generations,” VeryDarkMan said in the viral video which can be found here.

The incident has reignited debates about how Nigerian banks handle dormant accounts and inheritance claims, with many calling for stricter oversight and transparency in the banking sector.

For now, Access Bank maintains that its operations meet the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, urging the public to approach such matters with caution and rely on verified information.