Operatives of the Police National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) have arrested a woman identified as Hafsat alongside several co-suspects over their alleged involvement in creating and circulating false reports claiming that financial technology firm OPay had suspended operations in Nigeria.
The arrests follow a high-profile cyber-investigation launched after a fabricated graphic went viral across messaging apps and social media platforms, falsely informing users that the fintech platform would cease customer transactions.
Police Confirmation and Official Briefing
Confirming the development during a press briefing in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, stated that the suspects were tracked down for orchestrating digital misinformation capable of causing economic instability and user panic.
“The suspects allegedly generated and circulated online claims that OPay had stopped operating, triggering unnecessary anxiety among account holders and attempting to damage the institution’s operational reputation,” the police spokesperson disclosed.
Watch the official Channels Television briefing below:
Retrospective: The Fake News Incident
The law enforcement action comes days after OPay issued a public disclaimer dismissing the viral shutdown announcement.
In its initial clarification, the payment service bank identified severe errors in the fake broadcast graphic:
- Legacy Logo Usage: The graphic relied on an outdated company emblem.
- Typographical Inconsistencies: The official brand name was misspelled throughout the notice.
- Unverified Claims: No regulatory notification or statutory disclosure backed the claims.
Management at OPay reiterated that all core banking infrastructure, instant transfer channels, and merchant payment portals remained fully functional without interruption.
Legal Framework Governing Cyber-Misinformation
Under existing Nigerian cybercrime legislation, disseminating unverified information targeting financial institutions carries severe legal consequences.
1. Financial Misinformation
Law: Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act
Penalty: Fines, imprisonment, or both upon court conviction.
2. Identity Misrepresentation
Law: Digital Rights & Protection Guidelines
Penalty: Criminal prosecution for brand identity spoofing.
3. Public Panic Generation
Law: Criminal Code Provisions
Penalty: Penalties for malicious disturbance of public order.
Security agencies have advised social media users and content creators to cross-check financial news against official corporate channels before sharing broadcasts online.
Investigations remain active as police cyber-analysts work to identify additional syndicates involved in drafting digital financial hoaxes.
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