Despite initial moves after FIJ’s report, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) has refused to return Pa Innocent Anyaka’s DM 14, 500 (deposited 38 years ago) now worth at least N3.5m at the current exchange rate without taking inflation into consideration.
In a follow-up conversation with Anyaka one month after telling his story, FIJ learnt that despite initial contact, the bank has refused to take any tangible steps.
“They’ve done nothing,” Anyaka said. “They said they were sorry. After asking me how the issue began, they said none of the staff had been in UBA for up to 38 years.”
On Thursday, January 28, FIJ reported that UBA had held on to Pa Anyaka’s money for 38 years and ignored letters from his lawyers.
Hope soared when UBA reached out to him following the story and requested a copy of the letter sent to their Lagos head office the previous year.
“UBA, which has ignored my lawyer’s letters, called me this morning at 9am and made a request for a copy of the letter sent to their Lagos head office last year,” Pa Anyaka told FIJ a day afther the report was published.
The money, part of the N200,000 converted into Deutsche Mark in 1982 for onward transfer into a German company’s account for the importation of drugs, has remained with the bank since then.
While confirming that the bank reached out initially, Pa Anyaka’s daughter also said that the bank has not done anything commendable.
“They called him but have not written him for any meeting,” she said.
Independent, public-interest journalism has never been more vital than in times like this when truth is constantly being suppressed. With your support, it will be easier for us to continue speaking truth to power and preserving your right to know.
