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The short answer
When the receiving bank says the money has already been withdrawn, it cannot debit an empty account, so the recall ends there. Your next steps are a written outcome from your bank, a police report (which lets the police obtain the account holder's details through the proper legal route) and, if the person is identifiable, a demand letter and a civil claim such as the Lagos small claims court for sums up to ₦5,000,000.
What "already withdrawn" actually means
A recall is a request from your bank to the receiving bank to return a transfer. It is not an order. Moniepoint's own fraud help page, for example, says a recall depends on the funds still being available, on the beneficiary's consent and on the beneficiary bank's discretion, and that recovery is not promised. When the reply is "funds already withdrawn" or "insufficient balance", the receiving bank is telling you that the money has moved on and that there is nothing in the account it is willing or able to hold.
That reply closes the banking route, not the matter. The debt still exists in law, and in a fraud case a crime may have been committed. What changes is who can act: from here, the police and the courts have powers your bank does not.
Get the outcome and your evidence in writing
Before anything else, ask your bank for a short written confirmation of the recall outcome. You will need it for the police, for a lawyer and for any later complaint. Ask for it by email so it is dated.
- Your transaction details: date, time, amount, your account, the receiving bank and account number, and the session ID (the long reference on NIP transfers).
- The name shown before you sent: NIBSS says its NIP system runs a name enquiry so the sending institution can check the beneficiary's details by account number before the transfer goes. Screenshot that name if your app shows it on the receipt.
- The bank's reply: the date the recall was logged, the date the receiving bank answered and the wording used.
- Your statement: a bank statement covering the transfer. A stamped or verifiable statement carries more weight than a screenshot.
- Any contact with the receiver: chats, calls, the advert or listing, if the transfer was part of a deal.
Getting the receiver's details: why you go through the police
Banks will not hand a customer's phone number, address or BVN to you. Moniepoint's fraud page says it releases customer data to the police only on a valid court order, and other banks follow similar confidentiality rules. The account name you saw at name enquiry is usually all you will get directly.
A police report is how you open that door. Report at the police station nearest to where the loss happened, or, for online fraud, through the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) e-reporting portal, which the police launched in May 2024. Investigators can then seek the court orders needed to obtain account records and trace where the money went. A 2018 country report quoting a Special Fraud Unit officer said no fee is charged for a police report; if anyone asks you to pay to open a case, note it and ask for a receipt.
If the money was taken by deception, the Cybercrimes Act 2015 makes computer-related fraud an offence (section 12(1)) carrying at least three years' imprisonment or a fine of at least ₦7,000,000, or both. A criminal case is about punishment; any restitution order is at the court's discretion, so keep the civil route open as well.
Pursuing the money civilly
If you know who received the money (a named person, a business, a contact who simply refuses to return it), you can sue to get it back. A legal commentary from LawPavilion notes that courts can grant orders to freeze an account, either without notice to the other side (ex parte) or on notice, and that banks generally will not reverse a wrong-beneficiary transfer without the receiver's consent or a court order.
Small claims in Lagos
The Lagos State Small Claims Court practice directions cover money demands of up to ₦5,000,000 (excluding interest and costs) with a Lagos connection. You must first serve a Letter of Demand (Form SCA 1) and give 14 days to pay. You can represent yourself, and the directions aim for judgment within 60 days of filing. Other states have their own magistrate and small claims arrangements, so check with the court registry in your state.
After judgment
A judgment is paper until it is enforced. If the person holds money in any bank account, garnishee proceedings under the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act let a judgment creditor ask the court to attach it. A lawyer can tell you whether that is realistic for your amount.
Worked example: deciding what to do
Example only. Adaeze sends ₦180,000 to the wrong account by one digit. The recall returns "funds withdrawn" after three days. The account name at name enquiry was a real person, and the receiver ignores her bank's messages.
- She asks her bank for the recall outcome by email and downloads her statement.
- She reports at her local police station with the outcome letter, statement and receipt.
- Because she lives in Lagos and the amount is under ₦5,000,000, she serves Form SCA 1 and waits 14 days.
- With no payment, she files Form SCA 2 at the small claims court and, if she wins, asks about enforcement.
What to check first
- Did your bank log a formal recall, or only send a message? Ask for the reference.
- Was the bank slow? If it did not acknowledge your complaint within 3 days or resolve it within 2 weeks, the CBN's complaints guide lets you escalate to its Consumer Protection Department.
- Is this a mistake or a fraud? A mistake points to a civil claim; deception points to the police first.
Where Pryme fits
Evidence carries this kind of case. Any Pryme customer can generate a verifiable receipt or statement through our partnership with VerifyDoc.ai, which anyone (a police officer, a lawyer, a court clerk) can check is genuine and unaltered. See verifiable receipts and how we approach account security.
For the steps that come before this point, read when the receiver refuses to return a wrong transfer, how to report fraud to the police and EFCC and when a court order is worth it.
Questions people ask
Can my bank give me the details of the person who received my money?
Generally no. Banks keep customer information confidential and release it to the police on a valid court order. A police report is the usual route.
The bank said funds withdrawn, is my money gone for good?
Not necessarily. The recall route has ended, but you can still report to the police and, if the receiver is identifiable, make a civil claim and later enforce a judgment.
How much does it cost to sue for a wrong transfer in Lagos?
The Lagos small claims practice directions refer to "appropriate filing fees" without listing an amount; ask the court registry. You can represent yourself, which avoids legal fees.
Can I report online instead of going to a police station?
For cybercrime, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre runs an e-reporting portal. A physical station report is still common for wrong transfers and is often what banks ask for.
Sources
- Moniepoint Support: Fraud (updated 9 Feb 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- NIBSS: NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) (page modified 17 Apr 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Techeconomy: Nigeria Police launches platform for reporting cybercrime (31 May 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- LawPavilion: Erroneous bank transfers in Nigeria: costly mistakes, fraud risks and legal remedies · accessed Oct 2026
- Lagos State: Small Claims Court Practice Directions (file dated 17 Dec 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- CBN: How to Lodge a Complaint (CPD/GEN/GUIDE/03, January 2022) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.