The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC, has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the alleged creation and circulation of a fake document claiming that fintech company OPay Nigeria Limited was shutting down its operations.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, announced the arrest during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Iniedu, the investigation began after OPay Digital Services Limited submitted a formal petition on August 31, 2026, seeking an investigation into the origin of the document and the arrest of those responsible for producing and distributing it.
The petition was submitted through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja.
The police spokesman said the document had been deliberately presented as an official communication from OPay, despite being fraudulent.
Following the petition, the NPF-NCCC deployed digital forensic tools to examine the document and trace its source.
Iniedu said the investigation linked the document to a post made through the X account @haifah_er_abba, which was registered and operated by Hafsat Abubakar.
Police operatives subsequently arrested Abubakar on September 4, 2026.
The suspect was identified as a 27-year-old graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Iniedu said the case highlighted the potential consequences of digitally fabricated information, particularly when false claims could cause public panic, disrupt financial activities or damage the reputation of businesses.
He urged members of the public to verify sensitive information through official sources before sharing it online.
The police said investigations were still ongoing and assured that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted after the process is completed.
The development followed an earlier denial by OPay of a viral claim that it would discontinue its services from September 1, 2026.
The fake notice, titled “Official Note,” had circulated on social media and claimed that OPay would stop processing transactions and providing account-related services indefinitely from that date.
OPay’s Head of Corporate Communications, Folayemi Joshua, dismissed the notice as completely false and assured customers that the company remained fully operational.
The company also identified several irregularities in the document, including the use of an outdated logo, a misspelt brand name and a design that did not match its official communications.
OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, had earlier confirmed that the company was collaborating with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to identify the source of the false information.
OPay also warned that people who intentionally circulate false claims about its operations could face legal consequences.
Source: The PUNCH
