OPay has threatened legal action against three social media users over claims that the fintech company would shut down its operations from September 1, 2026.
The company, in separate legal notices issued on August 31 and September 1, accused the users of spreading false information that could cause panic among its millions of customers.
Those named in the notices are Adamu B. Garba II, who uses the X handle @adamugarba; @viralgrabtvng on TikTok; and Cute Hafserh, known as @haifah_er_abba on X.
The controversy began after a message circulated on social media claiming that OPay would go on an indefinite break from September 1 and advising customers to withdraw their money from the platform.
OPay dismissed the message as false and said its services remained fully operational, urging customers to ignore the message and rely on its official communication channels for information about its services.
In a legal notice sent to Garba, OPay accused him of publishing a post on August 30 claiming that the company was shutting down and encouraging customers to move their funds to another wallet.
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The company demanded that the post be deleted and that he publish a retraction and apology.
OPay also issued a similar notice to @viralgrabtvng over the publication of the shutdown claim, while Hafserh was accused of sharing similar information on X.
The company warned that failure to comply with its demands could lead to legal action.
Hafserh has since deleted the post and apologised, admitting that the information shared was false and misleading, stating that OPay’s operations remained normal.
The shutdown claim had earlier been debunked by fact-checking and news organisations, with OPay confirming that it had no plans to suspend its operations.
The false message came amid concerns among some customers who feared that they could lose access to their funds if the alleged shutdown took effect. OPay, however, maintained that there was no disruption to its services.
The fintech company has continued to operate its payment, transfer and other financial services as normal, while warning social media users against spreading unverified information about its business.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
