EXCLUSIVE: 80-Year-Old Nigerian Pensioner Loses N2.38Million After Bank ATM Swallows His Card, FCCPC Confirms Fraud
EXCLUSIVE: 80-Year-Old Nigerian Pensioner Loses N2.38Million After Bank ATM Swallows His Card, FCCPC Confirms Fraud
Months after the incident, however, the pensioner says the ₦2,379,984.88 allegedly taken from his account has not been recovered.
An 80-year-old pensioner, Pa Raymond Sambo Dongtoe, has lost ₦2.38 million from his Union Bank account in a series of disputed transactions that occurred shortly after the bank’s ATM retained his debit card in Jos, Plateau State.
Documents reviewed by SaharaReporters show that the transactions took place on March 21, 2026, after Dongtoe attempted to use his debit card at several ATMs following an unsuccessful payment attempt at a filling station.
The case has since been reported to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigeria Police Force, with the FCCPC stating in correspondence seen by SaharaReporters that it had established that the disputed transactions were “fraudulently carried out.”
Months after the incident, however, the pensioner says the ₦2,379,984.88 allegedly taken from his account has not been recovered.
The circumstances surrounding the withdrawals, the bank’s response after the card was retained, the failure of the customer’s reported attempts to block the card and the authorities’ efforts to trace the receiving accounts have raised questions about the effectiveness of fraud-response mechanisms available to bank customers.
The Day The Card Was Retained
Dongtoe, who says he has maintained an account with Union Bank since 1965, first encountered problems while attempting to pay ₦20,000 for petrol at Hariz Filling Station along Bauchi Ring Road, Jos North.
Documents relating to the case show that the payment was attempted through a Zenith Bank POS terminal.
The transaction did not produce either a successful or failed notification, according to Dongtoe, and no debit alert was received.
Concerned about the status of his account, he and his son proceeded to an FCMB ATM around the British America Junction flyover to check the balance.
The FCMB machine reportedly displayed what Dongtoe described as an unusual handwritten-style message, prompting him to cancel the transaction.
He subsequently tried an Access Bank ATM opposite the FCMB location but encountered a “No Network” error.
He then proceeded to Union Bank’s ATM on Bank Road, Jos, apparently expecting that using the ATM of his account-holding bank would resolve the problem.
Instead, the machine retained his debit card.
The screen displayed: “Card Retained.
According to the complaint later submitted to the CBN, Dongtoe was informed that the card could only be retrieved on the next working day.
But what happened after he left the ATM has become the central issue in the dispute.
Nearly N2.4m Withdrawn
Shortly after returning home from the Union Bank ATM, Dongtoe began receiving multiple debit alerts in rapid succession.
According to his complaint, the transactions were not authorised by him.
By the time the withdrawals stopped, ₦2,379,984.88 had allegedly been removed from the account.
The pensioner immediately attempted to block the card through available channels.
His complaint to the CBN alleges that the bank’s USSD card-blocking service failed and that repeated attempts to reach customer service were unsuccessful.
One response he said he received while trying to contact the bank was: “You are not authorized to call this number.”
Despite his efforts, the disputed deductions allegedly continued.
Bank Allegedly Suggested Card Swap
Dongtoe subsequently reported the incident to Union Bank.
According to his complaint, officials at the bank suggested that his card might have been swapped.
He said he requested access to the retrieved card and detailed information that could help establish how the withdrawals were carried out, but alleged that these were not provided to him.
The pensioner also sought assistance in identifying the accounts into which the money had been transferred and recovering the funds.
Documents reviewed by SaharaReporters show that he repeatedly requested the bank’s intervention in tracing the destination of the funds.
He alleged that bank officials told him that only the police could contact the receiving banks and trace the accounts involved.
He further complained that the bank initially resisted receiving his written complaint until he insisted.
CBN Complaint Raises Fraud-Prevention Questions
In a March 25, 2026 complaint to the CBN’s Consumer Protection Department, Dongtoe outlined a series of alleged failures by Union Bank.
Among the issues listed were “failure to prevent unauthorized transactions,” “possible ATM compromise” and “failure to use CCTV monitoring and ATM verification camera imagery.”
He specifically asked the CBN to compel Union Bank to review footage from the Bank Road ATM gallery in Jos on March 21.
He also requested footage from the FCMB and Access Bank ATMs around British America Junction.
“CCTV Review: Compel Union Bank to release the CCTV footage of the ATM gallery at Bank Road, Jos, of 21st March 2026. Including the footage at FCMB and Access Bank both at British America Junction,” he wrote.
Dongtoe also asked the regulator to assist with the recovery of the money.
“Recovery: Assist in the recovery of the total sum stolen, which represents my livelihood and pension stipend,” he stated.
He requested that the CBN investigate the disputed transactions, identify the receiving accounts through the acquiring bank, facilitate reversal of the funds and provide him with the outcome of the investigation.
He also complained about what he described as the bank’s failure to provide a full account statement and dispute reference number.
FCCPC Finds Transactions Were Fraudulent
The matter subsequently reached the FCCPC.
In an April 8, 2026 letter addressed to the Nigeria Police Force, the commission acknowledged receiving Dongtoe’s complaint against Union Bank and referred the matter to the police, stating that the complaint fell within the police’s jurisdiction.
Two days later, on April 10, the FCCPC wrote directly to Dongtoe.
The commission said it had considered submissions from both sides, including correspondence from Union Bank dated April 1 and Dongtoe’s response dated April 2.
Its conclusion was significant.
The FCCPC stated that it had established that the disputed transactions were “fraudulently carried out.”
“In view of the foregoing, the matter has been formally referred to the Nigeria Police Force, which is statutorily better placed to resolve matters such as this and enforce necessary actions in accordance with applicable laws,” the commission stated.
It directed further correspondence to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja, and requested feedback on the eventual resolution of the case.
Despite the referral, Dongtoe says he remains without the funds months later.
A 61-Year Banking Relationship
The case is particularly significant because of Dongtoe’s age and the length of his relationship with the bank.
In his complaint to the CBN, he stated, “I have maintained a banking relationship with Union Bank Plc (formerly Barclays Bank) since 1965.”
The 80-year-old described the disputed money as his retirement livelihood and pension funds.
“The emotional and financial distress caused by this incident is immense,” he said.
His son, Leon Smith Dongtoe, told SaharaReporters that the family had sought a detailed account statement to establish exactly how the transactions were executed.
According to him, the family was provided with an abridged statement instead.
He further alleged that attempts to obtain a detailed statement through the police, including through a court order, were unsuccessful.
The family is seeking an investigation into the disputed transactions, identification of the receiving accounts, recovery of the funds and examination of CCTV footage from the locations where Dongtoe used ATMs on the day of the incident.
Questions Over Bank’s Fraud-Response System
Beyond the individual loss, the case raises broader questions about the safeguards available to customers whose cards are retained by ATMs or potentially compromised.
Among the questions requiring answers are how the disputed withdrawals were authorised, whether the transactions were conducted through the retained card or another channel, when Union Bank became aware of the alleged compromise, and what steps were taken to freeze the account.
The circumstances also raise questions about whether CCTV footage from the relevant ATM locations was preserved and reviewed, whether the receiving accounts were identified and whether the bank initiated a recovery process after the disputed transactions were reported.
For Dongtoe, the issue goes beyond the loss of money.
His son described the case as an example of what he called “systemic oppression, corporate lawlessness, and institutional failure” faced by vulnerable Nigerians.
“We need leadership that stands up against these predatory institutions and fights for the vulnerable,” Leon said.
The family is now calling for the pensioner’s money to be recovered and for the authorities to establish exactly how the funds were withdrawn after the ATM retained his card.
SaharaReporters understands that the FCCPC has formally referred the matter to the Nigeria Police Force, while Dongtoe has also petitioned the CBN over the disputed transactions.
SaharaReporters contacted Union Bank’s spokesperson, Ayotunde Omolayole, for the bank’s response to the allegations.
Omolayole said the bank had “no comment” on the matter but provided an email address for further inquiries.
SaharaReporters subsequently sent an email to the address provided, seeking clarification on the alleged fraudulent transactions, the bank’s investigation into the matter and efforts to recover the pensioner’s funds.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the bank had yet to respond.
