SKYE Bank Plc is hard-pressed trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the fraudulent withdrawal of N109, 926.20 allegedly sent to a former primary school teacher, Mrs. Freda Aina Labinjoh, through the Western Union Money Transfer.

A letter dated April 7, which was written to the Chief Inspector of the bank by Labinjoh stated that, the money, sent by her cousin from the UK, was fraudulently withdrawn with a fake driver's licence at a Lagos Branch of the bank.

Without the slightest premonition that the money, which was meant to offset part of the fees for her part-time education programme in Lagos, had been intercepted six days earlier at a Lagos branch of Skye Bank Plc, Mrs. Labinjoh had gone to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Branch of First Bank Plc on March 8, 2010 to claim the money, but was told that no match was found of the details she tendered.

Labinjoh's letter to the inspectorate division of the bank reads:

"On March 12, 2010, the Sum of N109, 926.20k was sent to me by my cousin, Susan Labinjoh, from the UK. On March 15, 2010, I was at First Bank Plc, International Airport Branch Lagos to claim the money but I was told no match was found. I approached another branch of FBN at Bolade Oshodi and I was told no match was found.

"I put a call across to my cousin and she confirmed all the details (test question and answer and the control number sent to me were correct). I went back to FBN International Airport branch on March 18, 2010 and it was confirmed to me that the said money was collected at Skye bank on March 12, 2010 at about 9.52am.

" However, the text question and answer was sent to me on March 12, 2010 by 3.15 pm, which means that the cash was collected before I even received the text message.

"On the same day, March 18, 2010, I went straight to Skye Bank branch at the International Airport and I was directed to Mr. Lekan Faleye of Western Union Money Transfer Department at Skye Bank Head office at Adeola Hopewell, Off Idowu Taylor. On meeting Mr. Lekan, I lodged my complaint and he advised me to write, which I did and submitted to him.

"He promised to investigate this anomaly and give me call on Monday, March 22, 2010. After waiting for his call on Monday, which did not come, I decided to go back to the bank's head office.

" He confirmed to me that the money was claimed at Skye Bank but with a driver's licence bearing my name. I don't have a car; neither do I have a drive's licence. All my previous Western Union Money Transfers were collected with my National Identity Card.

"I requested to know the branch where the money was collected but he declined.

"Kindly help me investigate this with a view to recovering my money and to further reinforce my trust and confidence in your bank and Western Union Money Transfer transactions," Mrs. Labinjoh pleaded.

According to the victim, more than one month after her letter Ña copy of which was sent to the Group Managing Director Ñ was acknowledged, she is yet to get a response from the bank.

The Guardian repeatedly tried to reach Mr. Faleye on his mobile line but the phone rang out on each occasion.

Mrs. Labinjoh's is one of the awry experiences that have in recent times plagued recipients of money transfers through the nation's banking sector.