GTB To Pay N1m To Customer For Failing To Block Debit Card

A Magistrate Court sitting at Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has ordered Guaranty Trust bank PLC to pay the sum of N1 million Naira to its customer, Dr. Sonny Ajala, SAN, for not blocking his debit card when he asked them to do so, leading to illegal withdrawals made from his account.

The Nigerian lawyer reports that Ajala SAN had claimed that his account was debited without his approval, on the 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st May, 2019, for a total sum of N37,400.

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According to him, he had called the bank’s online Customer Care number but was told they were Taxify services rendered in Lagos.

He subsequently went to court (in July 2019) over the matter.

In its argument, GTB said the lawyer must have exposed his PIN details leading to such withdrawals at the time.

The Nigerian lawyer reports that His Worship passed judgement in favour of the lawyer on Friday, and ordered that the monies illegally withdrawn should be refunded with interest.

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“Going by the evidence before the court, which shows that the plaintiff’s account was debited on the 30th, 31st of May, 2019, despite instructions given both verbally and in writing by the plaintiff to block the debt card, there’s no explanation given by the defendant’s witness as to how the plaintiff’s debit card was still used by the plaintiff or whoever he allegedly disclosed his personal identification number (PIN), to, subsequently he had instructed that the card be blocked.

“The defendant has the duty to the plaintiff to safeguard funds in his account. He failed In his duty when even after the plaintiff had reported the fraudulent transactions and demanded that his debit card be blacklisted but the defendant failed to do so.

“The Defendant’s assertion that the plaintiff compromised his PIN was not in any way established before the court.
“The judgment is entered in favour of the plaintiff in the following terms:

“GTBANK is ordered to immediately refund to the plaintiff the sum of N37,400 with an interest of 10% from the 31st of may, 2019 to the date of this judgment.

“GTBANK is ordered to pay to Dr. Ajala, SAN the sum of 1 million Naria(N1,000,000), as damages for negligent in handling of the plaintiff’s account,” his worship said.

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