OPay shutdown rumour: Police arrest woman over viral post

OPay has been at the centre of a recent incident involving a forged document that falsely claimed the fintech company was shutting down its operations. The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) arrested Hafsat Abubakar on September 4 after digital forensic analysis linked her to the creation and circulation of the fake notice.

The misleading document, which mimicked OPay’s official branding and included a bogus management signature, suggested that the company would cease its services. OPay has publicly denounced the claim as false, emphasising that it could mislead customers and create unwarranted anxiety about their funds.

The investigation began after OPay filed a formal complaint on August 31, urging law enforcement to investigate the matter. Using advanced digital forensic tools, the NPF-NCCC traced the document to an account linked to Abubakar.

The police reported that Abubakar shared a notice on her X account and then reposted it through another account, @CUTE_HAFSERH, tagging social media influencers. The message urged readers to “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.”

Abubakar claimed she found this notice on a WhatsApp status before posting it. The publication quickly went viral, racking up over 572,000 views in just minutes. Three Apple mobile phones were seized from her as part of the investigation.

Similar read: OPay threatens legal action against 3 social media users over false shutdown claims

The NPF-NCCC is continuing to look into how this fake notice was created and spread, and whether others were involved. Once the investigation is complete, Abubakar and anyone else implicated will face charges.

CSP Ani Iniedu, the Force Public Relations Officer, urged Nigerians to double-check any information before acting on or sharing news related to financial institutions. The police specifically advised the public to rely on official channels when dealing with banks, fintechs, or other financial services.

OPay had already taken legal action over the rumour

The company recently took legal action against social media users spreading false claims that the company would stop operating in Nigeria on September 1. They issued legal notices to three individuals: Adamu B. Garba II on X, the TikTok account @viralgrabtvng, and Hafsat Abubakar (@haifah_er_abba).

These notices, dated August 31 and September 1, demanded that the posts be deleted and that the users issue apologies. OPay called the shutdown rumour misleading and warned that it could cause unnecessary customer withdrawals. Hafsat Abubakar deleted her post and publicly apologised, admitting she had shared incorrect information and confirming that OPay was operating normally.

Despite her apology, the police investigation continued, leading to her arrest on September 4.

OPay also addressed the rumours at a town hall in Lagos, where COO Dotun Adekunle reassured attendees that the company was functioning well, highlighting its over 7,000 employees and new customer support offices.

OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Moses Rokosu, indicated that the company was collaborating with law enforcement regarding the false claims. As the investigation deepens, the police are looking into the source of the forged documents and any other parties involved. The matter is still under investigation.

Also read: OPay: We are not shutting down, over 7,000 staff still working in Nigeria