Nigerian social media activist VeryDarkMan has accused Access Bank of withholding ₦500 million belonging to the family of the late Mr. Edongesi Edith Hour, sparking public outrage and renewed calls for transparency in the banking sector.
In a video shared on his Instagram page on Tuesday, VeryDarkMan detailed the family’s struggle to access funds reportedly held in Access Bank since Mr. Edongesi’s passing on April 17, 2019, without leaving a will.
According to him, the family, armed with a Letter of Administration from the Kaduna High Court, successfully retrieved ₦10 million from GT Bank and ₦2.9 million from Keystone Bank. However, the alleged ₦500 million in Access Bank remains a contentious issue.
VeryDarkMan claimed the dispute began when Access Bank initially denied the existence of the account. Even after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) confirmed accounts linked to Mr. Edongesi’s BVN, the bank reportedly provided incomplete transaction records.
In 2020, Access Bank claimed the account, opened in 2016, had gone dormant and held only 54 kobo. The family, however, believes financial records between 2016 and 2020 suggest possible irregularities.
Despite multiple legal petitions and demands between 2020 and 2022, Access Bank allegedly failed to provide comprehensive statements. The family’s pursuit of clarity has intensified in 2024 as public and legal pressure mount on the bank.
In the video, VeryDarkMan accused Access Bank of fraudulent practices and called for a thorough investigation.
He highlighted the broader implications of the case, urging Nigerians to demand accountability.
“This is not just about one family. It’s about ensuring that every Nigerian can trust the banking system to safeguard their money for future generations,” he said.
Sharing the video, he wrote: “IF YOU HAVE AN ACCESS BANK ACCOUNT PAY ATTENTION TO THIS, YOUR FUTURE AND GENERATION MAY DEPEND ON THIS… THIS ALLEGATION MUST NOT BE SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET. A DEEP INVESTIGATION SHOULD AND MUST BE CARRIED OUT.”
