₦1.34 Billion Allegedly Diverted From Access Bank Accounts
OpenLife News has gathered that account holders of Access Bank are in a panic mode after ₦1,340,425,393 was allegedly diverted from customer accounts into several beneficiary accounts across Access Bank and 71 other financial institutions.
The bank said the fraud was perpetrated through its internet banking platform for businesses, the Access SME App.
Fraud Discovered August 12, Court Order Secured August 13
In a bid to recover the funds and stop further dissipation, Access Bank approached a Federal High Court in Lagos on August 13, 2026.
Presiding Judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko, granted an interim order after hearing an ex parte application filed by the bank through its counsel, Ifeoma E. Enyinnaya.
The order placed a Post No Debit, PND restriction on accounts said to have received portions of the disputed funds, preventing any withdrawals or transfers pending further proceedings.
According to court documents, Access Bank stated:
“Upon resumption on 12th August 2026, the Applicant noticed a fraud incident which occurred on some accounts domiciled with the Applicant and was perpetrated through one of the Applicant’s internet banking applications known as Access SME App.”
₦1.34bn Traced To 71 Banks
An internal investigation, the bank said, traced the movement of N1,340,425,393 from customers’ accounts into several beneficiary accounts maintained with Access Bank and 71 other financial institutions.
Fearing the money could be moved out before recovery, the bank sought urgent preservative orders from the court.
Orders Granted By The Court
Justice Aluko granted 3 of the 4 reliefs sought:
PND Order:
Mandating Access Bank Plc and 71 respondents to place Post-No-Debit on all accounts and BVNs listed in Exhibit Access 1 & 2, and any other accounts that benefitted from the unauthorized funds.
Affidavit of Disclosure: Directing the 71 banks to file and serve affidavits stating the amounts salvaged in the affected accounts.
BVN Watchlist: Mandating the banks to watchlist the BVNs of affected accounts until the total sum of ₦1,340,425,393 is fully recovered.
Relief Denied
The judge, however, declined the fourth request to immediately reverse the salvaged funds to Access Bank’s account 0703060877.
Justice Aluko held that reversing the funds at this stage would amount to granting a final relief before hearing the substantive application.
The case was adjourned to August 31, 2026 for the court to consider Access Bank’s application for recovery and reversal.
Customers React
The development has sparked panic among Access Bank customers, with many taking to social media to demand clarity on how their funds were moved and what safeguards are in place on the SME App.
Access Bank is yet to issue a public statement to customers on compensation or additional security measures.
