OPay Customer Opeyemi Awodoyin Withholds N100,000 Sent in Error, Blocks Sender
Ani Gerald Chukwuebuka, a Lagos-based solar system installer and sales specialist, has narrated how a simple digit error led to the wrongful transfer of N100,000 into the OPay account of Opeyemi Faridat Awodoyin and the recipient’s refusal to return the money.
Chukwuebuka told FIJ on Wednesday that the incident occurred when a friend attempted to repay a loan but mistakenly sent the money to Awodoyin’s account due to a minor discrepancy in the account number.
HOW THE ERROR OCCURRED
Chukwuebuka explained that the transaction error stemmed from a one-digit difference between his OPay account number and that of Awodoyin.
“My own account number is 7047213096 while hers is 7047213093,” he said, noting that the mistake happened at the last digit.
“I helped a friend out with a transfer of N100,000. So, in the early hours of yesterday, he wanted to send back my money from his Access Bank.
“We were together at the time. So, he gave me his phone to put in my account details. I put it in and I forgot to check the name that appeared. He didn’t bother either, so he sent the money right away.”
DISCOVERY OF THE MISTAKE
Hours after the transaction, Chukwuebuka realised that he had not received the expected credit alert, prompting him to check his OPay account balance.
“Hours later, I realised I didn’t get any credit alert from OPay. I logged in to my app, but I didn’t see any new money on my balance dashboard,” he said.
It was at this point that he identified the discrepancy in the account number and understood that the funds had been sent to another person.
ATTEMPTS TO RECOVER THE MONEY
Following the discovery, Chukwuebuka said he immediately reached out to Awodoyin to request a refund.
“Immediately I called her, she shouted and claimed she didn’t see anything. Later, I called again, she agreed that she received the money. After a few minutes, she twisted it again and said OPay took it from her account because, according to her, she’s owing them,” he said.
He added that he also contacted her via WhatsApp, where she initially appeared willing to cooperate.
“I also sent some message to her on WhatsApp yesterday and she grudgingly agreed to refund the money to me in tranches.”
‘SHE BLOCKED ME’
Despite the initial agreement, Chukwuebuka said subsequent efforts to follow up on the refund were unsuccessful. He added that Awodoyin eventually blocked him on Wednesday morning shortly after he sent a reminder message to her about the money.
“This morning, I messaged her and reminded her that I was the one who contacted her yesterday. Immediately she knew I was the one, she blocked me,” he said.
“Despite my pleas, she still refused to refund the money and still went ahead to block me.”
On Wednesday, FIJ called Awodoyin twice to get her response on the matter. She declined the first call and immediately switched off her phone, while subsequent calls did not go through.
FIJ later sent her a WhatsApp message seeking her reaction. She read the message but had not responded at press time.
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