Banking
N572k Fraud: Diamond Bank Blames Pensioner for her Ordeal
**Denies maltreating her
By Dipo Olowookere
One of the lenders in Nigeria, Diamond Bank Plc, has refuted reports making the rounds that it treated harshly a woman recently defrauded of her pension funds domiciled with the bank.
A consumers’ activist, Mrs Sola Salako Ajulo, who is also the President/Founder of Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), had posted on her Facebook wall that a pensioner, Mrs Comfort Ashaye, was allegedly chased away by a Diamond Bank Manager in Ikeja, Lagos after she had gone to lay complaint of her accumulated pension of N572,000 which developed wings from her account.
But Diamond Bank, in a response to Business Post enquiry on the matter on Thursday, said it was not true that its Manager maltreated the defrauded woman.
The financial institution said instead, when the matter was reported to them, the woman was comforted and given “better clarity on her account status.”
In the response sent through the lender’s PR agency, Prize Communications, Diamond Bank further said after its investigation into the case, it was discovered that the victim had given out her bank details to the fraudster, who pounced on the account.
Below is the reply by Diamond Bank to Business Post on the matter:
Mrs Comfort Ashaye came to the Diamond Bank branch sometime in March this year to transact and was told she had insufficient balance of N2 on her account. She expressed confusion and pain, but the branch manager took her into her office to comfort her and get better clarity on her account status.
Upon further probe, it was discovered that numerous mobile app withdrawals from her account in excess of N500k were made and she was asked if she had permitted/authorized any transaction by any means. She said no, but informed of a certain male that called her asking for her BVN details. She also informed that she hardly used her phone as it was always under her pillow at home.
Though she had the phone with her on that fateful day and she showed the branch manager and Diamond Bank staff the number that called her, which was a privately owned no (080).
Further investigations led the Diamond Bank staff to call the number which was answered but the guy also hung up as quickly as he picked it.
Mama’s phone also showed evidence of a 4 digit code, her mobile app pin, in her sent messages to this same unknown number.
She claimed that she lived alone and that all her children lived elsewhere.
However, Diamond Bank promised to investigate further to assist urgently. Her subsequent visit after the Easter break was with her son, who came and caused a scene witnessed by customers at the banking hall.
He rained abuses, threats, curses and even called Diamond Bank fraudulent. The bank security team came into the hall due to this and with the Diamond Bank staff tried to calm him, even mama also joined to plead on his behalf.
The Diamond Bank branch team confirmed to mama that the matter had been escalated to the fraud unit of the bank and that the unit had identified one of the fraudulent withdrawals to an account at Fidelity Bank and that they were contacted to block the account; though the funds had been moved since and the account owners also unreachable.
Following that feedback to mama Ashaye, the branch was visited by an investigative journalist, who wanted our side of the story before going public. As per their policy, he was asked to get the customers introductory letter as the customer’s information was private. However, he was informed of what transpired at mama’s initial visit and the fact that she was called by an unknown person and her pin sent to the same number. The journalist expressed surprise as these details were unknown to him. He reiterated that he could use same number to track the criminals as he had successfully done in the past.
He collected the branch manager’s details and promised to come back to the bank within two weeks, but nothing was heard from him again.
The investigation was also concluded and customer was fully briefed of her negligence and the bank was not liable.
However, she maintained that she won’t take that, emphasising that there must be an insider (from the bank involved in the fraud). This matter was since concluded in April after the son’s threat to deal with the bank.
Below is the original story as shared by Mrs Ajulo:
Diamond Bank Again!
Mrs Comfort Ashaye is a Pensioner. Her pension is paid into her Diamond Account (statement in pic). On March 28 2017, her total pension was withdrawn overnight by fraudsters. Total of N585k was wired out of the account, leaving Mama with a balance of N2.07!
According to Mama, she went to her branch opposite Motorways Plaza Toll Gate area of Ikeja and the Branch manager shooed her away without letting her make a formal complaint.
She reported to a radio journalist Mr Joseph Folorunsho who tried to investigate but the same branch manager (her name is Ijeoma) threatened to lock him up and called security to harass him. As we speak, Mama Ashaye cannot explain what happened to her money.
This is the 3rd case of fraudsters wiping out consumer’s funds via online or phone platforms from Diamond Bank.
Please help share Mama Ashaye’s story until Diamond Bank investigates and refunds her pension.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has denied reports that customers performing financial transactions would pay a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 7.5 per cent from January 19, 2026.
Information about this emanated from messages sent out to customers of a financial institution, informing them of the new development in compliance of Nigeria’s new tax laws, especially the Nigeria Tax Act 2025.
It was claimed that Nigerians, as part of efforts of the government to generate more funds from taxes, would begin to pay VAT for the use of banking services like USSD and others.
But reacting in a statement signed by its management on Thursday, January 15, 2026, the tax collecting agency emphasised that the VAT collection for such services was not new.
It stressed that customers have always paid taxes for electronic money transfers and others, as this is charged on the fee, not from the main amount of the transaction.
“The Nigeria Revenue Service wishes to address and correct misleading narratives circulating in sections of the media suggesting that Value Added Tax (VAT has been newly introduced on banking services, fees, commissions, or electronic money transfers. This claim is categorically incorrect.
“VAT has always applied to fees, commissions, and charges for services rendered by banks and other financial institutions under Nigeria’s long-established VAT regime. The Nigeria Tax Act did not introduce VAT on banking charges, nor (sic) did it impose new tax obligation on customers in this regard.
“The Nigeria Revenue Service urges members of the public and all stakeholders to disregard misinformation and to rely exclusively on official communications for accurate, authoritative, and up-to-date tax information,” the statement read.
Business Post reports that what this basically means is that if a customer sends N10,000 and the bank charges N50 for the service, a 7.5 per cent VAT on the N50, which is N3.75, would be paid by the sender, not N750, which is 7.5 per cent of N10,000.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian-born payments company, Paystack, has announced its entry into the banking sector with the launch of Paystack Microfinance Bank (Paystack MFB) after the acquisition of Ladder Microfinance Bank.
The bank continues Paystack’s push into consumer products and adds a banking layer to its business-focused payment product, coming ten years after the company was founded with the goal of simplifying payments for businesses using modern technology.
In Nigeria alone, the company says its systems process trillions of Naira every month, supporting more than 300,000 businesses and millions of customers. According to Paystack, this growth highlighted a broader need beyond payments, prompting the decision to build a more comprehensive financial offering.
Paystack MFB will begin lending to businesses before expanding to consumers. It will also offer banking-as-a-service (BaaS) products to companies building financial products and treasury management products.
The company explained that while payments are a critical part of the financial journey, businesses and individuals increasingly require a full financial operating system. This includes the ability to store money securely, move funds easily, gain clarity from financial data, and access tools that support long-term growth. Developers, Paystack added, also need reliable, secure, and compliant infrastructure to build new financial solutions efficiently.
To address these needs, Paystack said it has established Paystack Microfinance Bank as a separate and independent entity from Paystack Payments Limited.
The new microfinance bank operates with its own license, governance structure, and product roadmap, although it will work closely with its sister company.
“By adding Paystack MFB to our family of brands, we’re finding the right balance through combining the rapid innovation of a tech-first platform with the stability of traditional banking,” said Ms Amandine Lobelle, Paystack’s chief operating officer.
Last year, it launched its controversial consumer payments app Zap, and now it is taking a step further with the company securing regulatory backing to become a deposit-taking institution. According to a statement, the bank will be guided by the same principles that shaped Paystack’s early success, including reliability, simplicity, transparency, and trust.
Paystack MFB has begun operations with a small group of early members and plans a gradual rollout to more businesses and individuals. The company also announced the opening of a waitlist for interested users and confirmed it is recruiting a dedicated team to help build its long-term banking infrastructure.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has helped First Bank of Nigeria to recover the sum of N802.4 million from a suspect, Mr Kingsley Eghosa Ojo, who unlawfully took possession of over N1.3 billion belonging to the bank.
The funds were handed over the financial institution by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the anti-money laundering agency on Monday, January 12, 2026, a statement on Tuesday confirmed.
First Bank approached the EFCC for the recovery of the money through a petition, claiming that the suspect received the money into his account after system glitches.
The commission in its investigation; discovered that the suspect, upon the receipt of the money, transferred a good measure of it to the bank accounts of his mother, Mrs Itohan Ojo and that of his sister, Ms Edith Okoro Osaretin, and committed part of the money to completion of his building project and the funding of a new flamboyant lifestyle.
With the recovery of the money from the identified bank accounts, the EFCC handed it over in drafts to First Bank.
While handing over the lender, the acting Director for the Directorate, Mr Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, stressed his organisation would continue to discharge its mandate effectively in the overall interests of society.
“The EFCC Establishment Act empowers us to trace and recover proceeds of crime and restitute the victim. In this case, First Bank was the victim and that is exactly what we have done.
“We will continue to discharge our duties to ensure that fraudsters do not benefit from fraud and that economic and financial crimes are nipped in the bud,” he said.
In his response, the Business Manager for First Bank in Benin City, Mr Olalere Sunday Ajayi, who received the drafts on behalf of the bank, commended the EFCC for the swiftness and the professionalism it brought to bear in the handling of the matter and expressed the bank’s gratitude to the commission.
He described the EFCC as one of Nigeria’s most effective and reliable institutions.
Meanwhile, Mr Kingsley and all other suspects in the matter have been charged to court for stealing by the EFCC.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism9 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn