AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
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The short answer
A completed transfer cannot be pulled back by OPay on its own: the money is in the recipient's account and normally comes back only with their consent or through the receiving bank. OPay's FAQ tells customers to contact the recipient directly and says OPay is not responsible for recovering money sent in wrong peer-to-peer transactions. Report it to OPay support at once anyway, so it can contact the receiving bank, and if that fails, escalate to the CBN.
Why it is hard to reverse
Interbank transfers in Nigeria settle quickly, and once a transfer to another account succeeds, the money belongs in that account. In general, neither the sender's institution nor the receiving bank will take it out without the account holder's agreement or a lawful order, which is why recovery depends on the recipient and the receiving bank. This is general information, not legal advice. That is why acting fast matters: you want the receiving bank to know before the recipient spends or moves the money.
OPay's own FAQ is plain about where it stands: for money sent to the wrong account, it says to contact the recipient directly, and that OPay is not responsible for recovering money sent in incorrect peer-to-peer transactions. That does not stop you asking OPay to help; it means you should not expect a guaranteed refund.
Steps, in order
- Do not panic-send again. Check the transaction details first: the account name, number and bank the money went to.
- Report it to OPay straight away: open the transaction, tap the support or chat option, and say the transfer was sent in error. Give the reference, amount, time, and the recipient's name, bank and account number. Ask OPay to contact the receiving bank and request that the funds be held or returned. Save the ticket number.
- If the recipient is also on OPay, say so; OPay can see both sides.
- Contact the recipient if you can, politely, through a number the bank or OPay gives you, or from the transfer details. Many people return money when asked.
- Write to the receiving bank if it is not OPay, with a copy of your OPay receipt, asking it to contact its customer about the erroneous credit.
- Escalate if nothing has happened. The CBN's complaint guide says to allow your institution about two weeks, and to escalate earlier if it does not acknowledge within three days or give a tracking number. Write to the Director, Consumer Protection Department, at cpd@cbn.gov.ng or any CBN branch.
Who can do what
- OPay
- Can record your complaint, trace the transfer, contact the receiving bank and, if the recipient is on OPay, contact that customer. Its FAQ says it is not responsible for recovering wrong peer-to-peer transfers.
- The receiving bank
- Can contact its customer about the credit and ask for consent to return it. Whether it can hold the funds depends on its own procedures and the law.
- The recipient
- Can return the money with a transfer back to you, or authorise their bank to do it.
- The CBN Consumer Protection Department
- Handles complaints that an institution has not acknowledged or resolved; it does not reverse transfers itself.
- Police or a court
- Relevant if the recipient refuses to return money they know is not theirs. Take legal advice before that step.
Knowing this keeps your expectations realistic: your best chance is speed, a clear report and a polite approach to the recipient.
What to include in your report
| Detail | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Transaction reference and session ID | Lets OPay and the receiving bank trace the exact credit |
| Amount, date and time | Matches the record on both sides |
| Recipient name, bank and account number | Identifies the account to contact |
| The account you meant to pay | Shows the error, for example two digits swapped |
| Screenshot of the receipt | Evidence for the receiving bank and the CBN |
Our guide to evidence for a payment dispute goes further.
If someone sends money to you by mistake
The same rule works the other way: if money arrives that is not yours, return it through your institution rather than to a number someone gives you. Fraudsters send small amounts and then ask for a larger 'refund' to a different account. See someone sent money to your account by mistake.
Prevent it next time
- Read the account name that appears before you approve. If it does not match who you meant to pay, stop.
- Save regular recipients as beneficiaries so you are not typing numbers.
- Send a small test amount to a new recipient before a large payment.
- Be careful with numbers copied from a message; one wrong digit can still match a real account.
Worked example
Example: you mean to send ₦85,000 rent to a landlord's account ending 4718 and type 4781. The app shows a different name; if you approve anyway, the ₦85,000 lands with a stranger. Stopping at the name check costs nothing. Sending ₦100 first to a new landlord, then ₦84,900 once they confirm, delivers the same ₦85,000 in total.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme's Personal Assistant prepares payments for you to approve, and nothing moves without your approval, which gives you a final check of the recipient's details. See Personal Assistant and sending money.
Questions people ask
Can OPay reverse money sent to wrong account?
Not on its own. OPay's FAQ says to contact the recipient and that it is not responsible for recovering wrong peer-to-peer transfers. Report it anyway so OPay can contact the receiving bank.
How do I get my money back from a wrong transfer?
Report it to OPay with the reference at once, contact the recipient if you can, write to the receiving bank, and escalate to the CBN at cpd@cbn.gov.ng if nothing happens.
Can the bank remove money from the wrong recipient's account?
Generally not without the account holder's consent or a lawful order. The receiving bank can contact its customer and ask for the money back.
Someone is offering to reverse my transfer for a fee
This is a scam. No one can reverse a completed transfer for a fee; deal only with OPay and the receiving bank.
Sources
- OPay FAQs: merchant account, POS, wallet top-up and bank transfer questions (undated) · accessed Oct 2026
- CBN: How to lodge a complaint (Consumer Protection Department) · 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.