A Nigerian woman, Mrs. Soyebo, and her company, White Diamond Property Development Limited, have dragged United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, demanding N5 billion in damages for alleged unauthorised disclosure of her bank details to her estranged husband.
The lawsuit claims that UBA unlawfully provided Mrs. Soyebo’s sensitive financial information, including transaction history and other account specifics, to Mr. Olayinka Soyebo without her consent. This alleged breach of banking secrecy and customer privacy is said to have led to severe consequences for Mrs. Soyebo, including harassment, intimidation, and threats to her life, ultimately forcing her to flee the country for her safety.
According to court documents, Mrs. Soyebo and her company are seeking N2.5 billion each in damages from the commercial bank. They also demand a perpetual injunction restraining UBA from any further disclosure of their account information and a judicial declaration that the bank’s actions were unlawful and constituted a breach of their contractual agreement and constitutional right to privacy.
Allegations of Unauthorised Disclosure and Its Impact
The core of Mrs. Soyebo’s legal action hinges on the assertion that UBA disclosed her and her company’s bank statements and other confidential financial data to her estranged husband. She argues that even if a court order was presented by Mr. Soyebo, its scope was limited to a specific legal inquiry and did not authorise a comprehensive release of all her personal and corporate accounts.
The plaintiff alleges that the bank’s non-compliance with its duty of care and the principles of banking secrecy emboldened Mr. Soyebo to target her assets. This included a property that White Diamond Property Development Limited had already sold, which her husband allegedly sought to seize using the unlawfully obtained information. The alleged disclosure is said to have occurred around 2026, leading to a breakdown of trust and substantial emotional and financial distress.
Mrs. Soyebo’s legal team contends that UBA’s actions violate fundamental banking principles and customer protection laws in Nigeria. Financial institutions are generally bound by strict confidentiality rules regarding customer data, with disclosures typically permitted only under specific legal mandates, such as valid court orders that are clear in their scope, or with the express consent of the account holder.
This case highlights the growing importance of data privacy and protection for individuals and businesses in the digital age. Banks are entrusted with immense amounts of personal and financial information, and any breach of this trust can have far-reaching implications, as alleged by Mrs. Soyebo.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has established guidelines for financial institutions on customer data privacy, emphasising the need for robust safeguards against unauthorised access and disclosure. Compliance with these regulations is crucial for maintaining public confidence in the banking sector.
The lawsuit against UBA will test the extent of a bank’s liability when customer information is allegedly compromised, particularly in sensitive domestic disputes. The court is expected to deliberate on whether UBA acted within legal bounds or if its actions indeed constitute a breach of duty and privacy that warrants the substantial damages sought.
UBA is yet to publicly respond to the allegations, and the case is currently awaiting further proceedings at the FCT High Court, Abuja. The outcome could set a significant precedent for customer data protection and banking secrecy practices within Nigeria’s financial industry.
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