A Nigerian woman identified in media reports as Edith Ekanem has appealed for public assistance after claiming that she mistakenly transferred ₦900,000 to a man identified as Jacob Zingdam, who she alleges has not returned the money.

The incident reportedly occurred on September 1, 2026. According to the account shared in reports published on October 18, the woman said she contacted her transfer agent after discovering the mistake. The recipient allegedly agreed to refund the money and requested her account details, but later became unresponsive and told her not to disturb him.

The allegations have drawn attention to the difficulties people can face when trying to recover money sent to the wrong account. However, the account is based on the woman's reported version of events. The available reports do not establish an independent verification of the transaction or include a public response from the man named in the allegation.

What reportedly happened?

According to the reports, the sequence of events was as follows:

• September 1: Ekanem allegedly transferred ₦900,000 to an unintended recipient.
• Initial contact: She reportedly contacted her agent, who reached out to the recipient.
• Promise to refund: The man allegedly agreed to return the money and asked for her account details.
• Alleged refusal: She said he later stopped cooperating and did not respond to further calls or messages.
• Public appeal: She subsequently sought help online to locate him and recover the funds.

It remains unclear from the reports whether she has lodged a formal complaint with the banks involved or the police, and whether any official investigation has begun.

What the law and banking procedures mean for mistaken transfers

A mistaken transfer does not automatically entitle the recipient to keep the money. Nigeria’s Central Bank has published guidance on customer-error transfers that outlines a process involving the sending bank, the receiving bank and, where necessary, further dispute resolution. The applicable procedure and available remedies depend on the circumstances.

For anyone facing a similar situation, the practical steps are:

1. Contact your bank immediately. Report the erroneous transfer and request a formal recall or recovery process.
2. Preserve evidence. Keep the transaction receipt, reference number, date, amount, messages and any communication with the recipient.
3. Ask for a written complaint reference. This helps establish when the matter was reported and allows you to follow up.
4. Escalate if necessary. The CBN says customers should first complain to their financial institution and may escalate unresolved complaints to its Consumer Protection Department after the applicable period.

The sender should avoid publicly posting sensitive account details or attempting to recover the funds through threats or confrontation.

Note:

The alleged ₦900,000 transfer is a reminder to double-check account details before confirming a transaction and to act quickly when an error occurs.

If the allegations are substantiated, the case also highlights the importance of cooperation between banks and customers when resolving mistaken payments. The recipient's side of the story and any official findings remain unconfirmed in the reports reviewed.

The key question is whether the money can be recovered through the banking process and whether the reported allegations will be independently established.

Sources

GistReel — Original report