Olalekan Adejumo (not real name), a Lagos State resident, has narrated how Sterling Bank opened a strange bank account in his name, despite not soliciting or requesting for any.

In an interview with FIJ on July 10, Adejumo said the strange Sterling Bank account was opened in his name on July 9.

“On July 9, I discovered that Sterling Bank had opened a strange account number in my name,” said Adejumo.

“I found this shocking because I had never at any time walked into any Sterling Bank branch to make an account opening request.

“More importantly, I had also never been a Sterling Bank account holder. I have never been a Sterling Bank customer.

“The most shocking part was that I received no fewer than eight email verification alerts, despite never having initiated or authorised any such activity. The notifications were sent to my email box.

“The strange account was opened at exactly 1:54 pm on that day.”

Adejumo further told FIJ that a strange transaction was carried out by one LEGBETI ANUOLUWAPO VALERIE on the account on the same day.

“After I received the email notification that an account had been opened in my name, a deposit of N5,000 was made into it by one Legbeti Anuoluwapo Valerie,” said Adejumo.

“Almost immediately, a debit transaction of N5,000 also impacted the account. The debit transaction was carried out by the same Legbeti Anuoluwapo Valerie.”

The Lagos resident said he subsequently visited the Sterling Bank branch located at Aromire, Ikeja, Lagos, to lodge a complaint. To date, no resolution has been arrived at.

Adejumo believes the strange account was opened in his name by unknown persons to perpetrate fraud.

“I am interested in knowing the identity of the bank staff who authorised and processed the fraudulent account opening, that is, if the account was opened in any of the bank’s branches,” said Adejumo.

“I am also interested in knowing the means by which biometric registration protocols were bypassed or overridden when the account was opened, the identity of the individual who deposited and later withdrew funds from the account, the account opening documentation that was fraudulently submitted in my name, and the phone number that was used in opening the account, and the NIN that was linked to the phone number.

“I believe the strange account was opened to perpetrate fraud.”

On the same July 10, FIJ emailed Sterling Bank’s customer care desk to inquire about the complaint lodged by Adejumo.

Hours later, one of the financial institution’s staff who simply introduced herself as Vivien E. issued the following response:

“Kindly note that your complaint has been routed to the appropriate team for review.”

Checks carried out by FIJ on Friday showed that 0123931608, the disputed Sterling Bank account number, was still very much active.

This meant that Sterling Bank had done little to address Adejumo’s concerns about the continued existence of the strange account number in his name.

The account number has also remained active eight days after Sterling Bank’s staff told FIJ that the appropriate team was “reviewing Adejumo’s complaint”.

It has neither been deactivated nor closed by Sterling Bank. (Foundation for Investigative Journalism)