OPay Takes Legal Action Against Shutdown Rumors

OPay has launched legal proceedings against individuals and groups responsible for circulating a false message claiming the fintech company would cease operations in Nigeria. At a press conference in Lagos on September 2, OPay's Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, stated that the company is collaborating with the Department of State Services (DSS) to identify those behind the misinformation, with one related case already in court.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has classified the shutdown claims as fake news. OPay serves over 30 million users and millions of merchants, making the impact of such rumors significant.

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer, Dotun Adekunle, confirmed that OPay's services remained operational despite the claims. The incident underscores the vulnerability of Nigeria's digital payments market to misinformation, which can create anxiety among customers and merchants.

Olalekan Disu, an executive at eTranzact, emphasized the importance of trust in the digital payment ecosystem and warned against the dangers of spreading false information.