The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, in connection with the alleged production and circulation of a forged document claiming that fintech company, OPay Nigeria Limited, planned to shut down its operations.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, announced the arrest on Wednesday during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC headquarters in Abuja.
Iniedu said the investigation followed a formal petition submitted by OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, requesting an immediate investigation into the alleged fraud, as well as the tracing and arrest of those responsible for creating and distributing the document.
According to him, the petition was forwarded through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja.
He explained that the purported notice had been crafted to resemble an authentic communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited.
“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 the petition, operatives of the cybercrime centre commenced a digital forensic investigation aimed at determining the origin of the document and identifying the person or persons behind its creation and distribution.
“Upon receipt of the approved petition, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the content, which was traced to a post on the X handle, @haifah_er_abba, registered and operated by one Hafsat Abubakar,” Iniedu said.
He said the investigation subsequently led to Abubakar’s arrest on September 4, 2026.
“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,” he said.
The police spokesman said the case demonstrated the risks associated with digitally fabricated information, particularly false claims involving a major financial institution. He noted that such misinformation could cause public panic, interfere with financial activities and negatively affect the reputation of businesses.
Iniedu urged members of the public to exercise caution before forwarding or sharing sensitive information, stressing the importance of verifying such claims through official communication channels.
He added that the investigation remained ongoing and assured that individuals found culpable would face prosecution after the process was concluded.
The arrest came days after OPay denied a viral report alleging that the fintech company would stop operating from September 1, 2026.
The purported notice, which circulated widely on social media, was presented as an “Official Note” and claimed that OPay would indefinitely suspend transaction processing and account services from the stated date.
However, OPay’s Head of Corporate Communications, Folayemi Joshua, rejected the document as “completely false”, maintaining that the company continued to operate normally.
The company also pointed to a number of inconsistencies in the purported notice, including an outdated logo, a misspelt version of the brand name and a format that differed from its established official communications.
OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, had also disclosed that the company was working with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to establish the source of the fabricated document.
The fintech firm subsequently warned that individuals who knowingly spread false information about its operations could face legal consequences.
