Police Arrest 27-Year-Old Hafsat Abubakar Over Fake OPay Shutdown Notice
By Aboki Forex —
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over a forged document claiming that OPay Nigeria Limited was shutting down its operations.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, announced the arrest at a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, September 9.
How the trail led to the suspect
Iniedu said the investigation started after OPay Digital Services Limited filed a formal petition with the police on August 31, 2026, asking for the identification and arrest of those behind the fake 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.
The fraudulent document was designed to look like an official communication from OPay. Iniedu said the cybercrime centre deployed digital forensic tools to examine it and trace its source.
The trail allegedly led detectives to a post on the X account @haifah_er_abba, which police said was registered and operated by Abubakar.
“Upon receipt of the approved petition, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the content,” Iniedu said.
Operatives arrested Abubakar on September 4. Police said she is a graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
What the fake notice claimed
The fabricated document, titled “Official Note”, claimed OPay would stop processing transactions and account services indefinitely from September 1, 2026. It spread quickly on social media and drew attention from customers.
OPay denied the claim, describing the document as completely false and assuring customers that its services remained operational.
The fintech firm also pointed to inconsistencies in the document, including an outdated logo, a misspelt version of the brand name and a format that differed from its official communications.
OPay’s Head of Corporate Communications, Folayemi Joshua, urged customers to rely only on the company’s verified communication channels for information about its services.
Its Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, had earlier confirmed that OPay was working with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the source of the false notice.
Police warning to the public
Iniedu said the case shows the consequences of digitally fabricated information, especially when false claims concern financial institutions. He warned that such information can create public panic, disrupt transactions and damage the reputation of businesses.
He advised members of the public to verify sensitive information through official channels before sharing it online.
The arrest comes after OPay moved to reassure millions of Nigerian customers following the viral claim that it would suspend operations from September 1, 2026. The publication reportedly urged customers to withdraw or transfer their funds before an alleged prolonged shutdown. OPay rejected the report as false, malicious and misleading, saying it remains fully operational and has no plans to shut down.