A customer of First Bank of Nigeria PLC, Mr. Izogie Evanni Akugbe, has demanded swift and decisive action following an alleged breach of his bank account by unknown individuals who reportedly colluded with bank employees.
In a petition dated December 13, 2024, Mr. Akugbe, through his lawyer Barrister Ikeorha Kehinde, accused First Bank staff of compromising his account information—disclosing his Bank Verification Number (BVN), account number, and balance to a third party.
According to the petition, the unnamed individual who contacted Mr. Akugbe claimed to have received the sensitive financial details directly from insiders at the bank. This alarming breach has reportedly left the customer in fear for his safety and deeply traumatized.
“Our client has suffered emotional and physical distress, including anxiety, high blood pressure, and disrupted business operations, due to this shocking invasion of his privacy,” the lawyer wrote.
The petition called for an urgent internal probe and a comprehensive report on the findings.
First Bank responded on January 28, 2025, through a letter signed by its legal officer, Maria Atoyebi, acknowledging the complaint and stating that an investigation was underway.
However, three months later, Mr. Akugbe says he has received no update or resolution. He insists the bank has failed to identify or sanction the insiders allegedly involved in the data breach.