The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the alleged creation and circulation of a forged document claiming that fintech company OPay Nigeria Limited would shut down its operations.
Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed the arrest on Wednesday during a press briefing at the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja.
According to Iniedu, the investigation began after OPay Digital Services Limited submitted a formal petition on August 31, 2026, seeking the urgent investigation, tracing and arrest of those responsible for producing and circulating the fraudulent document.
The petition was submitted through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja.
Iniedu said the document was deliberately presented as an official communication from OPay, creating the impression that the company was preparing to discontinue its services.
“On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, received a formal petition from OPAY Digital Services Limited through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, requesting urgent investigation, tracing and apprehension of persons responsible for the creation and simulation of a fraudulent document falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited,” he said.
Following receipt of the petition, the NPF-NCCC deployed digital forensic tools to examine the document and establish its source.
The police said its forensic analysis traced the document to a post published through the X account @haifah_er_abba, which investigators said was registered and operated by Abubakar.
Police operatives subsequently arrested Abubakar on September 4, according to the FPRO.
“On the 4th of September 2026, police operatives of the NCCC arrested one Hafsat Abubakar, a 27-year-old female graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,” Iniedu said.
The alleged hoax centred on a document titled “Official Note”, which circulated widely on social media and claimed that OPay would stop processing transactions and account-related services indefinitely from September 1, 2026.
OPay had earlier dismissed the claim, assuring customers that its operations remained fully active.
Folayemi Joshua, the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, described the purported shutdown notice as “completely false” and urged customers to rely on the fintech firm’s official communication channels for accurate information.
The company also identified several inconsistencies in the document, including the use of an outdated logo, a misspelt version of the brand name and a layout that differed from OPay’s standard corporate communications.
OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, subsequently confirmed that the company was collaborating with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to establish the source of the false information.
The company warned that people who deliberately circulate false information about its operations could face legal consequences.
Police said the incident highlighted the potential consequences of digitally fabricated information, particularly where false claims involving financial institutions can cause public panic, disrupt financial activities and damage corporate reputations.
Iniedu consequently advised members of the public to verify sensitive information through official channels before sharing it on social media or other digital platforms.
The investigation remains ongoing, while the police said anyone found culpable would be prosecuted after the conclusion of the investigation.
