The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned two women before the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations that they circulated a false report on Facebook and WhatsApp claiming that Access Bank Plc would shut down its banking operations from September 23, 2026, while urging customers to close their accounts and withdraw their money.
The defendants, Idorenyin Samuel Umoh and Fineness Monday Esu, were brought before Justice Akintayo Aluko on Friday on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cyberstalking and publication of allegedly false information capable of causing public fear and disturbing public peace.
The charge, marked FHC/L/CR/773/2026, was filed by the police through prosecuting counsel Stanley Nwafoaku of the Directorate of Legal Services, Federal Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.
According to the prosecution, the alleged incident occurred on or about July 28, 2026, when the defendants were said to have conspired with other persons who are still at large to circulate a report that Access Bank was preparing to cease operations.
Police alleged that the publication went further by advising customers of the bank to immediately close their accounts and withdraw their funds before the purported shutdown date.
The prosecution contended that the information was false and was allegedly disseminated in circumstances capable of causing panic among customers, disrupting public order and potentially triggering a rush to withdraw deposits from the bank.
In the second count, the police alleged that the defendants knowingly and intentionally transmitted the publication through Facebook and WhatsApp, despite allegedly knowing that the information was untrue.
The third count accused them of publishing or reproducing statements, rumours or reports which they knew, or had reason to believe, were false and likely to cause fear and alarm among members of the public or disturb public peace.
The alleged offences were said to contravene Sections 27(1)(b) and 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, as well as Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Both defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all three counts when the charges were read to them in court.
Following their pleas, prosecuting counsel Nwafoaku asked the court to remand them in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending trial.
Defence counsel Cynthia Nwanpu, however, asked the court for a short adjournment to enable her file a formal bail application on behalf of the defendants.
Justice Aluko subsequently ordered that Umoh and Esu be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The judge adjourned the case until November 25, 2026, for trial, while directing that any bail application filed on behalf of the defendants should be considered promptly.
The case centres on what the prosecution says was a fabricated report capable of causing panic among Access Bank customers by creating the impression that the financial institution was about to shut down and that depositors risked losing access to their money unless they withdrew their funds.
The allegations have not been proved, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty by the court.
