OPay Digital Services Limited has threatened legal action against an X user over a viral publication claiming that the fintech company planned to suspend its operations indefinitely from September 1, 2026.
The user, identified as Cute Hafserh (@haifah_er_abba), reportedly shared a post on August 30 advising OPay customers to withdraw their funds from the platform ahead of the alleged shutdown.
The claim emerged alongside a purported notice circulating on social media, which stated that OPay would suspend transactions and account related services from September 1 and embark on a “long indefinite break.”
However, OPay swiftly dismissed the notice as false and assured customers that its operations would continue normally. Following the circulation of the claim, the fintech company issued a formal legal notice to Hafserh through its Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Moses Rokosu.
OPay accused the user of publishing information it described as false, malicious, unlawful, libellous and defamatory, alleging that the publication had caused reputational and commercial damage to the company and harmed its business operations. The company demanded that Hafserh permanently delete the publication from X and any other platform where it may have been shared. Followed by a clear and unequivocal retraction of the claim and an unreserved apology.
The fintech gave the user until 11:59 p.m. on August 31, 2026, to comply with its demands, warning that failure to do so would trigger legal action and the pursuit of all available remedies.
In a separate warning to the public, OPay urged customers and members of the public to verify financial and operational information before sharing it online.
The company stressed that false narratives about financial institutions can cause significant harm by creating unnecessary panic among customers and potentially disrupting business operations.
OPay’s clarification came as the shutdown claim gained traction online, with the alleged notice urging customers to move their funds out of their accounts before the purported suspension.
The fintech maintained that there was no plan to shut down or suspend its services and urged customers to rely on its verified communication channels for accurate information.
However, the incident has renewed concerns over the rapid spread of unverified financial information on social media, particularly claims that could influence customers to make urgent decisions concerning their money.
OPay reiterated that it would continue to take the spread of false information about its operations seriously and warned against creating, sharing or amplifying misleading claims about the company.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
