Patrick Majekodunmi Benjamin Claims Operations Manager “Nosa” Withheld ₦1.4M, Demanded Bribe Despite Compliance with Documentation
A customer of Fidelity Bank’s University of Benin (UNIBEN) branch has accused the financial institution of unlawfully withholding his wife’s funds and soliciting a bribe for their release. Patrick Majekodunmi Benjamin, acting on behalf of his spouse, Ubrure Jite, alleges that Operations Manager Nosa demanded illicit payments despite full compliance with regulatory requirements.
Patrick claims that on March 14, 2024, he and Jite visited the UNIBEN branch to collect $921 (₦1.4 million) sent via Remitly.
After resolving an initial name discrepancy, Operations Manager Nosa released only ₦123,000, instructing Patrick to return on March 17 for the balance.
However, Nosa later refused, citing “discomfort” with the sender’s foreign name—a justification Patrick dismissed as baseless.
After escalating the issue to Fidelity Bank’s headquarters, Patrick was redirected back to the UNIBEN branch. When confronted, Nosa allegedly defied instructions from the Branch Manager (BM) to release the funds, openly refusing to apologize for his conduct.
“Nosa told me, Do the needful. You know how these things are done,’ which I interpreted as a demand for a bribe,” Patrick told SaharaReporters.
“This was extortion, not protocol.”
Fidelity Bank provided SaharaReporters a statement from Remitly, cautioning against disbursement due to the “beneficiary not knowing the sender.”
However, Patrick refuted this, asserting the sender—a business contact exploring corporate account options—had guided Nosa on correcting documentation.
Transaction Splitting: The $921 was sent in seven parts due to Remitly’s transfer limits, all directed to one account.
Partial Release: Patrick questioned why ₦123,000 was released initially if fraud was suspected.
Documentation Compliance: BVN, NIN, sender details, and transaction records were submitted, with no EFCC petitions or regulatory blocks.
“If this were legitimate, why withhold funds for weeks? Why no formal explanation?” Patrick stated.
The case raises concerns over Fidelity Bank’s internal oversight. Despite the BM’s intervention, Nosa’s defiance and alleged corruption highlight potential systemic issues. Patrick has demanded transparency and immediate release of the remaining ₦1.1 million.
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Credit: Sahara Reporter
