UNILAG Don Sues Eight Banks For Alleged Internet Fraud

A University of Lagos
(UNILAG) don, Dr. Oluwatosin Sanu, has sued eight commercial banks for alleged internet fraud on her bank accounts.
In a writ of summon filed by her counsel, Prof. Akin Ibidapo Obe before a Lagos High Court, Dr Sanu, who is an associate Professor and Consultant Orthodontist  in the Faculty of Dental Sciences at University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH), is asking for N55,050,23754 being special general and special damages for alleged negligence in the handling of her two bank accounts with the first defendant bank.
The claimant also asked the court for cost of the action which she assessed at N2 million.
The claimant alleged that the negligence on her account by the first defendant bank resulted in unauthorised withdrawals of N3,050,237,54 from her two accounts through the internet and unauthorised payments into beneficiary accounts domiciled in the eight defendant banks.
The claimant also prayed the court for interest to be calculated on the lost sum at the prevailing rate as from September 6, last year to  the date of Judgment .
The defendants bank include United Bank for Africa Plc, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Diamond Bank, of Nigeria  Plc, First Bank of Nigerian Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank of Nigerian Plc, Enterprise Bank Plc, Access Bank of Nigerian Plc and Stanbic IBTC Bank.
The writ of summons is supported by a 49-Paragraph statement of claim and a 70-paragraph affidavit made on oath in support of the statement of claims.
She alleged that 20 unauthorised  withdrawals totaling N2,580,693,25 was made from her current account with the first defendant, number 1002717118 between September 3 and September 6, last year.
She further alleged that eight unauthorised withdrawals totaling N4,69,134 was also made from her Gold savings account with the first defendant, number  2060668002 between August 23, 2013 and September 5, 2013.
The claimant averred in the statement of claim that following a petition on the matter dated October 30, last year, made to the Nigerian police, a thorough Investigation  was conducted into the alleged internet fraud on her two accounts.
The police, she claimed issued a report ascribing the loss to negligence and collusion of the first defendant’s seneants.
The claimant stated that on August 10, last year, she travelled to United States for a conference and vacation and while there, received a call from her  daughter, Dr. Sope Akeredolu, informing her that her bank account Officer at the first defendant bank, Mr. Olatunbosun Alakija had been trying to reach her on phone without success.
She said that when he eventually got through to her on telephone, she was told that there were purposed transactions” going on in her bank accounts but that no details was  given.
She claimed to have repudiated the transactions as not coming from her, more so that her cheque book and ATM Card were with her in the US.
On her return from the US, she met with her account officer and branch manager, Mrs. Patrice Ozukwe.
She said she was told that a total transfer of N3,050,237.54 had been made on her accounts through the banks internet banking transaction.
The claimant alleged that the first defendant breached the duty of care owed her and was negligent in the management of her accounts when it facilitated such huge withdrawals without her knowledge and authorisation.
According to her, the first defendant or its internet banking officer ought prudently and reasonably to have contacted her through telephone, Sms or electronic mail for her authorisation of the internet withdrawals, particularly where huge sum was withdrawn from her two accounts through multiple transactions in one day.
For instance, she said N650,850,50 was withdrawn from her current account in six transactions on September 4, last year.