Popular fintech giant OPay is once again in the spotlight, following a wave of fraud-related cases and legal controversies that have raised concerns about the platform’s compliance systems and user protection measures.
Thank you for visiting The Vestigator, don't forget to share!
Between January and July 2025, several incidents involving court disputes, alleged rights violations, and financial irregularities have placed the company under renewed regulatory and public scrutiny.
Although OPay maintains that it operates with strict security and compliance standards, multiple reports suggest that fraudsters and procedural lapses have undermined user confidence. Below are some of the key controversies linked to the platform this year:
1. ₦95 Million Fraud Case Involving OPay Director
A Director of OPay Digital Services Limited, Mr. Wuritka Dauda, is currently facing contempt of court proceedings for allegedly ignoring a court order tied to a ₦95 million fraud case.
According to legal documents, OPay’s counsel, Prince Bayo Omotubora, has filed a motion to have Dauda committed to prison for failing to comply with a directive issued in November 2024.
2. Terrorism Financing Allegations Raise Oversight Concerns
While OPay itself was not named directly, the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC) recently listed Simon Ekpa, 14 others, and two entities for alleged terrorism financing.
The move has intensified calls for stronger Know Your Customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) controls in Nigeria’s fintech space, with experts warning that platforms like OPay could be vulnerable to misuse by extremist networks if oversight remains weak.
3. ₦3 Million Mosque Donation Dispute
In July 2025, OPay restricted the account of Muhammed Jamiu Abass, who had received ₦3 million from donors for mosque construction while in Saudi Arabia. Despite providing identity and transaction documents, his submissions were reportedly rejected multiple times.
Abass, represented by his brother, took legal action, and in a December 2024 ruling, Justice F.A. Sodamade of the Osun State High Court ordered OPay to unfreeze the account and pay ₦500,000 in damages for breaching his fundamental rights. The company had failed to appear in court despite being duly notified.
4. Businessman Alleges Unauthorized Deductions
Another user, Mr. Suleiman Mohammed Dikwa, filed a suit at the Jos High Court accusing OPay of freezing his account and deducting ₦28,592.92 without authorization.
Dikwa’s lawyer, F.M. Pukuma, argued that the transaction was tied to a Kaduna Sharia Court order that was never properly communicated to his client. He is seeking ₦30 million in damages, describing OPay’s actions as illegal and a violation of his customer rights.
Calls for Stronger Regulation
The series of disputes has reignited discussions on fintech regulation and consumer protection in Nigeria. Analysts and digital rights advocates are urging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to impose stricter compliance requirements on digital financial institutions.
Industry experts argue that while fintechs like OPay have expanded financial inclusion, weak dispute resolution mechanisms and inconsistent enforcement of customer rights remain serious issues.
As Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem continues to grow, stakeholders stress that transparency, accountability, and user protection must remain top priorities to restore public trust in digital banking platforms.
