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The short answer
Contact the provider you used straight away: a remittance app or Western Union if you sent through one, your Spanish bank if you sent a SWIFT transfer. If the money has not been paid out it can often be stopped; once credited to another Nigerian account, it usually needs that account holder's consent or a court order to come back. Recovery is not assured.
One wrong digit in a Nigerian account number can send money to a stranger. How much you can do about it depends on two things: which route you used from Spain, and whether the money has already landed. The first hour matters more than anything else, so start with the provider, not with the recipient bank.
First: work out where the money is
| Route you used | Who you contact first | What they can do |
|---|---|---|
| Remittance app (Remitly, Ria and others) | The app's support, with the transfer reference | Cancel if not yet paid; ask the payout partner to recall if paid |
| Western Union or Ria at an agent | Customer care, with the MTCN or PIN | Stop a bank or cash payout that has not completed |
| SWIFT transfer from your Spanish bank | Your bank's international payments team | Send a recall request through the correspondent chain |
Remitly's glossary is frank about the risk: wrong recipient details "may be delayed, rejected and returned, or in some cases sent to the wrong recipient". Ria's help centre says "We can't cancel your transfer if it's been paid", and that for bank deposits it checks with the correspondent bank before cancelling. In other words, the provider can only help quickly while the money is still in its hands.
If the account number does not exist
Often the number is simply invalid or belongs to a closed account, and the Nigerian bank rejects the credit. The money then comes back, usually less some charges and sometimes after several business days; Remitly says an incorrect account number "can add several business days". With a SWIFT payment the returned amount may be reduced by intermediary charges and converted back at a different rate.
If it was credited to someone else's account
This is the hard case. In Nigeria, the Central Bank's 2018 regulation on instant interbank transfers set a process for erroneous transfers, which Moniepoint summarised in May 2024:
- The sending side informs the receiving bank of the error.
- The receiving bank may place a temporary restriction (Post No Debit) on the account while it seeks the account holder's consent to reverse.
- If the holder does not consent, the internal audit teams of the banks involved may review it.
- As a last resort, a court order: Moniepoint describes the Magistrates' Court for smaller sums (below ₦5 million, ₦10 million in Lagos) and the High Court above that.
For a cross-border payment, you will usually not be the one talking to the Nigerian bank: your provider or its Nigerian payout partner will. Give them everything they need in one message.
What to send your provider
- The transfer reference (MTCN, PIN, order number or the SWIFT reference from your bank).
- The amount, date and time, and the account number you entered.
- The account number you meant to use and the correct name.
- A screenshot of the receipt and of the error, if you have one.
- Whether you know the person who received it; if you do, ask them to cooperate.
If your Spanish bank sent it
Ask your bank to issue a recall of the SWIFT payment and to give you the reference of that request. Banks charge for recalls and investigations under their own tariffs; check your bank's fee list before asking, and ask for the charge in writing. If the bank does not respond, use its formal complaints procedure and keep copies of everything you send.
Escalating in Nigeria
If the recipient is a customer of a Nigerian bank and the matter stalls, the CBN's complaints route, as summarised by Legit.ng, is to complain to the bank first, allow two weeks, then write to the CBN's Consumer Protection Department with the details and evidence of your first complaint. A relative in Nigeria with authority from you can help with branch visits. For a fuller walk-through, see wrong account number transfers from abroad.
Avoiding it next time
- Ask for the account number in writing, and confirm the account name the app or bank displays before you pay.
- Save regular recipients so the details are not retyped.
- Send a small test amount first when paying someone new.
Where Pryme fits
When you send naira from a Pryme account, you see the recipient's details on the review screen before you approve, and saved recipients cut retyping. Pryme holds euros and naira in one account, with authenticator-app security and a transaction PIN. More: Nigerian bank details to receive from Spain.
Questions people ask
Can I reverse a transfer sent to the wrong account in Nigeria?
Only with the account holder's consent or a court order once it is credited, as Moniepoint describes the CBN's 2018 process. Before payout, your provider may be able to stop it.
Will Remitly refund a transfer sent to the wrong account?
Remitly says wrong details may lead to a delay, a return or payment to the wrong person. Contact it at once with the reference.
How long does a returned transfer take to come back to Spain?
No provider page read gives a fixed time; an incorrect account number can add several business days, Remitly says.
Who do I complain to in Nigeria about a wrong transfer?
The bank first, then the CBN Consumer Protection Department if it is not resolved, with proof of your first complaint.
Sources
- Remitly financial glossary: Recipient · accessed Oct 2026
- Ria Help: How do I cancel my money transfer? (updated 8 Oct 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Moniepoint blog: Erroneous transfers (2 May 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- Legit.ng: CBN explains how to request a refund (30 Jun 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.