Influencer Arrested for False OPay Shutdown Claims

Hafsat Abubakar, a 27-year-old social media influencer known for her handle @haifah_er_abba, was arrested by the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) on September 4, 2026, after OPay Digital Services Limited filed a petition on August 31, 2026. The petition, submitted through the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, requested an urgent investigation into a fraudulent document that falsely claimed OPay would cease operations from September 1, 2026.

At a press briefing in Abuja on September 9, 2026, Force Public Relations Officer Anietie Iniedu confirmed the arrest and emphasized the dangers of sharing unverified content online. OPay's Head of Corporate Communications, Folayemi Joshua, labeled the document as "completely false," highlighting inconsistencies such as an outdated logo and misspelled brand name.

OPay's Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, stated the company was cooperating with law enforcement to identify those responsible for the fabrication and warned of legal consequences for spreading false information.