How to Recover Money Sent to the Wrong Account in Nigeria

October 15, 2026

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Last updated: 15 October 2026 · By Naijatipsland Editorial Team · Editorial policy

Sending money to the wrong account number happens often in Nigeria, and the first few hours matter most. The money is not always lost, but a bank usually cannot take it back on its own, so the way you report it and how fast you act decide your chances. This guide sets out what to do, how long things take, and when you need a court or the police.

Sources here range from 2018 to 2026 and do not all agree, especially on whether the recipient must consent. We flag the conflicts. This is general information, not legal advice. For a large sum, speak to a lawyer.

The short answer

Report to your bank immediately by phone, email or at a branch, and follow up in writing. Guides stress that time is of the essence because the recipient may spend the money.
Your bank can ask the recipient’s bank for a Post No Debit (PND) hold on the disputed amount. Moniepoint says a PND lasts only 72 hours.
If the recipient agrees, the bank can reverse the money. If they refuse, guides say you may need a court order.
A 2018 CBN circular reported by Blueprint says a sender can request reversal of an erroneous transfer in writing within 14 working days, and that the receiving bank should comply within one business day without needing its customer’s consent if the funds are available. Other guides say consent is needed, so ask your bank which rule it follows.
If you were debited but the recipient was not credited, that is a failed transfer, not a wrong transfer, and has its own faster reversal rule.

Four steps to recover money sent to the wrong account in Nigeria

Step 1: Contact the bank straight away

Call, email or visit your bank. Moniepoint says CBN’s recommended order is to contact the recipient directly first if you can, then your bank if there is no response. In practice, do both quickly. Prepare this in writing:

Your account name and number.
The recipient’s account name, number and bank.
The amount, date and time of the transfer.
A clear statement that it was a mistake, and that you have no business relationship with the recipient.
Proof: the debit alert, statement or receipt.

Ask for a complaint reference number and keep it.

Step 2: The hold and the recipient’s consent

Your bank informs the recipient’s bank, which can place a PND on the disputed amount only, leaving other funds free. The recipient is then invited to the bank. If they agree, the bank reverses the money. If they refuse, Moniepoint says the internal auditors of both banks can meet to review whether it was really an error. The recipient may also argue that the payment was for goods or services, and the banks consider that evidence.

Banks say they cannot move a customer’s money without consent or a court order, and a reversal without one could lead to a lawsuit against the bank. Nairametrics adds that you may not be lucky enough to get a refund, and that cases can take from two days to many months.

Which route to use for a wrong transfer, a failed transfer or fraud

Step 3: If the recipient refuses, go to court

A September 2025 guide describes the court route:

Instruct a lawyer to file an affidavit with the transaction details and evidence, such as the statement, transfer slip or receipt.
Choose the court by amount. For example, the guide gives Lagos: Magistrate Court under N10 million, High Court above that. Abuja: District Court under N5 million, High Court above that. A legal commentator also describes the Magistrate Court for sums under N10 million, and says an affidavit of urgency can ask for a quick hearing before the money is withdrawn.
Serve the court order on the recipient’s bank. The guide says the bank must then return the funds, and ignoring an order can amount to contempt of court.

Because a PND lasts 72 hours, move quickly. The Kaduna case in the same guide, a N200,000 transfer in March 2024, took about a month after a formal complaint before it was reversed.

What if you were debited but the money never arrived?

That is a failed transfer. The 2018 CBN circular on instant transfers, reported by Blueprint, says an unreversed failed transaction is due for reversal within 24 hours of a complaint, and a bank that fails to reverse it faces a N10,000 fine per transaction. Report it to your bank at once, quoting the date, time, amount and reference. If it is not fixed, escalate to the CBN as set out in our guide on blocking your card or account after fraud.

What if the money went to a fraudster?

That is different from a mistake. A legal commentator explains that a wrongful transfer is a civil matter, while obtaining money by false pretences (the 419 offence) is criminal. Report fraud to the Police, the EFCC or the ICPC with a written complaint and all evidence. Your bank may add the account to a watchlist or close it in a fraud case, but you should still report it to the bank first.

Time limits for reporting and holding a wrong transfer

Warnings

Fake documents: Moniepoint warns that fake receipts and fake court orders are used, and that some senders falsely claim a genuine payment was a mistake. Banks check documents.
Duplicate account numbers: Nairametrics notes that some customers at different banks can share the same NUBAN account number, which can cause misdirected transfers.
Recovery scams: Never pay a stranger who offers to “recover” your money for a fee.

How to avoid wrong transfers

Check the name that appears after you enter the account number, and stop if it does not match the person you intend to pay.
Check the bank name as well as the number, and send a small test amount for a new payee.
Save regular payees in your app, and type new numbers slowly.
Keep your own bank safe: see our guide on checking your BVN, because your BVN phone number is the key to your account.

Frequently asked questions

Can my bank reverse a wrong transfer?

Not on its own in most guides. It can request a hold and seek the recipient’s consent. A 2018 CBN circular says the receiving bank should comply within a business day if the funds are available, so ask your bank which rule it applies.

How long does a refund take?

It varies from two days to many months. A Kaduna case took about a month.

Do I need a lawyer?

Not if the recipient agrees to return the money. If they refuse, guides advise a court order, which needs a lawyer.

What if I never hear back from my bank?

Escalate to the CBN Consumer Protection Department after the bank’s two-week complaint deadline.

Is a draft rule coming for wrong-number transfers?

TechCabal reported in February 2026 that the CBN and NCC proposed 24-hour refunds for airtime and data sent to wrong numbers. It was a draft, so it was not in force when reported.

Bottom line

Report immediately, in writing, ask for a hold, and expect to need the recipient’s agreement or a court order. A lawful reversal is slower than a button, so double-check every payee before you send.