Bashir Ahmad Appeals to OPay Over Haifa Abubakar's Arrest

Bashir Ahmad, a former presidential aide, has made an appeal to OPay Digital Services Limited concerning the arrest of Haifa Abubakar. Abubakar was detained for a viral post that falsely claimed OPay was shutting down its operations.

Ahmad stated that Abubakar admitted her mistake and complied with OPay's request to delete the post and issue an apology. He questioned the necessity of her arrest, noting that she followed the company's demands.

Ahmad emphasized that while Abubakar's actions were wrong, condemning her should not equate to condemning her as a person. He urged OPay to reconsider the situation, highlighting that Abubakar is a young woman and student who has learned from her mistake.

Ahmad expressed concern that keeping her in custody serves little purpose and called for compassion alongside accountability. The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre arrested Abubakar on September 4, 2026, following the circulation of the fake notice.