By Abigail Mbah
Leading Nigerian fintech platform OPay has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s secret police and the Nigeria Police Force to track down and prosecute those behind viral, fabricated claims that the company plans to shut down.
The security agencies were brought in following the rapid spread of a fake notice styled as an official OPay communication. The viral post claimed the platform would suspend operations and transaction processing for an indefinite break starting September 1, urging customers to withdraw their funds immediately.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos, OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, emphasized that the decision to involve secret police and law enforcement stems from the threat the fake news poses to national financial stability.
“While the DSS and the Nigeria police are currently and intensively investigating this matter, we are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigations being conducted and have provided the necessary evidence to identify those responsible,” Rokosu said, adding that OPay is taking action against those responsible for creating and circulating the harmful information.
OPay executive leadership firmly debunked the viral claims across its verified channels, assuring millions of users that the platform remains fully operational:
Dr. Maxwell Loko, Vice President of Public and Government Affairs, confirmed the post was false, malicious, and misleading, reassuring users that customer deposits remain completely safe.
OPay reiterated its status as a fully licensed digital payment platform regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with customer deposits insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
The company urged the public to ignore unverified social media claims and rely solely on OPay’s official, verified channels for legitimate updates.
The ongoing DSS and police investigations aim to identify the creators and distributors of the fake notice, as OPay vows to take decisive legal action against anyone attempting to destabilize its operations or the broader financial ecosystem.