In a recent development, Nigerian singer and prominent internet personality, Peter Okoye, widely known as Mr P, has issued a stern warning of legal action against Polaris and Access banks. The move comes after Okoye expressed outrage over the misuse of his identity by online fraudsters for illicit activities on the internet.
Last year, Okoye raised concerns about fraudulent individuals exploiting his name to carry out scams online. The artist has been actively engaged in a lottery program bearing his name, which, unfortunately, has been exploited by cybercriminals adopting the same moniker for their nefarious endeavors.
Taking to his official Instagram account and his verified X handle, Peter Okoye voiced his frustration on Wednesday, questioning the banks’ decision to open accounts under his name without proper verification protocols. Sharing images of both financial institutions, the artist threatened to initiate a lawsuit against them to seek damages and pledged to expose additional banks involved in similar activities.
In a tweet, Okoye stated, “Enough is enough. It’s either an inside job or otherwise. I have a name to protect here and save some of these innocent victims. So get ready for me and my legal team.”
The artist further raised the concern that @polarisbankltd and @myaccessbank allowed the creation of an account under the name “PETER OKOYE PSQUARE” without the requisite means of identification. Notably absent were valid Biometric Verification Numbers (BVN), biometric data, verified address details, or utility bills corresponding to the account holder’s provided address. The consequence of this negligence has led to the exploitation of Okoye’s identity for deceitful activities, thereby defrauding unsuspecting individuals.
With determination, Okoye vowed to take legal action against the banks for the damages caused. He also called upon the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (@officialefcc) to pay heed to the situation and take appropriate measures.
The incident underscores the urgent need for financial institutions to enhance their verification procedures and security measures, ensuring that accounts are opened with stringent adherence to the identity of the account holder. As the legal battle looms, industry experts anticipate that this case will draw attention to the responsibility of banks in preventing fraudulent activities and protecting the interests of their customers.
