AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
A verifiable receipt settles the payment half of a dispute: anyone can check that it is genuine and unaltered, so it shows who paid, how much and when without relying on a screenshot. It does not prove the goods were delivered, so pair it with a signed delivery note or collection record; together they answer most "I paid but you never delivered" claims.
Two questions in every trade dispute
When a customer says "I paid and you did not deliver", or a buyer says "I never received it", the argument usually turns on two separate questions:
- Was the payment made, by whom, for how much and on what date?
- Were the goods handed over, to whom, what exactly and when?
Traders often have good evidence for one and none for the other. A busy stall may have a bank statement full of credits but no record of who collected what. A delivery business may have a rider's word but no proof of which transfer belonged to which order. A sound record covers both.
Why ordinary receipts and screenshots struggle
Most proof of payment in Nigerian trade is a screenshot of a transfer screen or a PDF from a banking app. These are easy to produce and easy to fake; see how to spot a fake transfer receipt and is a transfer receipt proof of payment?. In a disagreement, each side can say the other's picture was edited, and neither can show otherwise without going back to the banks.
Courts add another layer. A May 2025 Mondaq analysis of Nigerian case law notes that section 84 of the Evidence Act 2011 governs computer-generated evidence, that the Court of Appeal in Rosehill Ltd v GTB (2016) treated statements of account as computer-generated evidence needing to meet it, and that BUA International v SAIMA (2023) departed from that line. The point for a trader is simple: the easier a document is to check, the less time is spent arguing about whether it is real. This is information, not legal advice.
What a verifiable receipt adds
A verifiable receipt is issued with a way for anyone holding it to check that it is genuine and has not been altered since it was issued. That changes the conversation in three ways:
- The buyer cannot claim the amount or date was edited, because the check would fail.
- You can share it with a third party, such as a market association chairman, a police officer or a lawyer, who can verify it themselves.
- It ends the screenshot argument early, which keeps a small dispute small and saves a trip to the police station.
What it does not do matters as much. It proves a payment, not a delivery, not the quality of the goods and not what was agreed. Read what a verified receipt proves, and what it does not.
Records that cover the delivery half
| Situation | Record to keep | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Customer collects at the stall | Collection note signed by the collector, with date and items | Write the payment reference on the note |
| You deliver by rider | Delivery note signed on arrival, or a photo of the goods at the address | Ask the rider to send the photo before leaving |
| Goods sent by a logistics firm | Waybill number and the firm's tracking record | Keep the waybill with the receipt |
| Part delivery | Note showing what was delivered and what is outstanding | Both sides sign |
Under section 118 of the FCCPA, as summarised on the FCCPC's consumer rights page, a consumer can ask for a written record of a sale where practicable, so offering one is also good practice.
A worked example
Example only. Musa sells phone accessories. On 3 October a buyer pays ₦46,500 by transfer for 15 chargers at ₦3,100 each (15 × ₦3,100 = ₦46,500). A week later the buyer says only 10 arrived and asks for ₦15,500 back. Musa has a verifiable receipt for the ₦46,500, which the buyer does not dispute, and a delivery note signed by the buyer's shop assistant listing 15 chargers. The payment is not in question and the delivery note answers the count, so the argument is over in one exchange. Without the note, Musa would have proof he was paid and nothing to show what he handed over.
Using it in a dispute: steps
- Find the payment. Match the buyer's name, amount and date on your statement.
- Issue or request the verifiable receipt for that payment and keep it with the order.
- Put the delivery record beside it: signed note, waybill or photo.
- Send both to the buyer calmly in writing and invite them to verify the receipt themselves.
- If it goes further, give the same pair to the market association, the police or the FCCPC. More in payment dispute evidence.
If the other side produces a document you believe is forged, the Cybercrimes Act 2015 makes computer-related forgery an offence (section 11, minimum three years' imprisonment or a ₦7 million fine, or both). Report it rather than confronting the person.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme partners with VerifyDoc.ai, so any Pryme customer can generate a regular or a verifiable receipt or statement, and anyone can check that a verifiable one is genuine and unaltered. See receipts and what is a verifiable receipt?.
Questions people ask
How can I prove a customer paid me?
Match the payment on your own statement, then keep a receipt the customer cannot dispute as edited, such as a verifiable receipt that anyone can check.
Does a receipt prove I delivered the goods?
No. A receipt proves payment. Keep a signed collection or delivery note, a waybill or a photo as proof of delivery.
Customer says they paid but I did not see the money: what do I do?
Check your own balance and statement, not their screenshot. Ask for the date, amount and sending bank, and do not release goods until it shows.
Is a screenshot of transfer valid evidence in Nigeria?
It can be offered, but it is easy to dispute. Electronic evidence in court is subject to section 84 of the Evidence Act 2011. Take legal advice for a real case.
Sources
- Emerging issues on the admissibility of electronic evidence in Nigeria (Mondaq, Christian Ogbodo, 27 May 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- FCCPC: Consumer rights and responsibilities · accessed Oct 2026
- Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (PDF) · 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.