Fintech company OPay Digital Services Limited has threatened legal action against three social media users after they allegedly posted claims that the firm planned a prolonged shutdown and urged customers to withdraw their funds.
In demand letters dated September 1, OPay accused X users Adam B. Garba II (@adamugarba) and Cute Hafserh (@haifah_er_abba), along with TikTok account ViralGrabTV (@viralgrabtvng), of circulating “false, malicious, libellous and defamatory” information capable of harming its reputation and commercial interests.
The company said it was alerted on August 30 to posts stating OPay would embark on a “long indefinite break.” One letter noted that Garba had also promoted an alternative digital wallet, Crowwe Wallet, while making the claims.
“It is our position that your conduct is malicious, deliberate and calculated to damage our company’s goodwill, reputation and commercial interest,” OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel Akinfolabi Rokosu wrote to Garba.
The letter continued: “Your publication and/or amplification of the false statement, coupled with the simultaneous recommendation of an alternative wallet alongside the false publication, constitutes an infringement to our company’s right and have caused reputational and commercial damage to our brand and business operations.”
Similar language appeared in the notices sent to ViralGrabTV and Hafserh. OPay described their posts as “false, malicious, unlawful, libellous, defamatory and lacking any factual, legal or ethical basis whatsoever.”
The company demanded that all three delete the material from their platforms, stop further circulation, issue clear retractions and offer “unreserved” apologies by 11:59 p.m. WAT on September 1. Failure to comply, it warned, would result in legal proceedings.
“TAKE NOTICE that your action has caused irreparable damage to us and we shall take all appropriate legal action against you and shall pursue all remedies available to us,” the letters stated.
The threats come at a time of heightened caution around unverified information about digital financial service providers, where such claims can risk triggering customer panic.
