Access Bank Shutdown Rumour: Two Women Remanded Over Viral Post
What allegedly began as a social media message about the future of Access Bank Plc has landed two women before the Federal High Court in Lagos, highlighting the potential legal consequences of circulating unverified information about financial institutions in Nigeria.
The Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Alagbon Annex, arraigned Idorenyin Samuel Umoh and Fineness Monday Esu over an alleged online publication claiming that Access Bank would shut down its banking operations from September 23, 2026.
The defendants appeared before Justice Akintayo Aluko on a three-count charge arising from the alleged transmission of the information through digital platforms.
According to the police, the controversial publication circulated through Facebook and WhatsApp and allegedly advised Access Bank customers to close their accounts and withdraw their funds ahead of the purported shutdown.
Prosecutors alleged that the publication was false and capable of generating fear among customers and disturbing public peace.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges, meaning the allegations against them remain subject to proof before the court.
Police prosecuting counsel Stanley Nwafoaku told the court that Umoh and Esu allegedly conspired with other persons who are currently at large to transmit the publication through computer systems and networks.
The alleged offences were said to have occurred on or about July 28, 2026.
The prosecution maintained that the defendants knowingly and intentionally transmitted information representing that Access Bank would cease operations and allegedly encouraged customers to withdraw their money.
Authorities further alleged that the publication was circulated with the intention of causing a breakdown of law and order.
The charges bring renewed attention to the potential consequences of financial misinformation in an era when information shared through WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media platforms can reach thousands of people within a short period.
Claims involving banks can be particularly sensitive because depositors may react quickly to information concerning the safety of their savings or the ability of financial institutions to continue operating.
The case is therefore emerging as more than a dispute over a social media post. It also raises questions about responsibility for verifying potentially damaging financial information before sharing it online.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly violated provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, as well as the Criminal Code Act.
Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act was cited in relation to the alleged transmission of false information through computer systems and networks.
The prosecution also relied on Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code Act in alleging that the publication was capable of causing fear and alarm or disturbing public peace.
After the defendants entered their not-guilty pleas, the prosecution asked the court to remand them in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending trial.
Their lawyer opposed the request and made an oral application for bail.
Justice Aluko subsequently directed the defence to file formal bail applications for consideration by the court.
The judge ordered that the two defendants be remanded pending the hearing of their bail applications and fixed November 25, 2026, for further proceedings.
The prosecution will now have the responsibility of proving the allegations against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.
The case comes amid growing concern about misinformation surrounding Nigeria’s financial institutions.
Access Bank had earlier dismissed reports that it was preparing to shut down, assuring customers that its operations remained uninterrupted.
The development underscores the speed with which unverified information can travel across social media and the potentially serious consequences when such claims concern institutions entrusted with people’s money.
For social media users, the case also highlights the distinction between receiving information and deciding to republish or amplify it.
As Nigerian authorities intensify attention on digital misinformation, particularly claims considered capable of generating public panic, the Access Bank case could attract significant interest over how existing cybercrime and criminal laws are applied to social media publications.
For Umoh and Esu, however, the immediate issue remains the criminal charges before the Federal High Court.
Both women have denied wrongdoing, and no determination of guilt has been made.
Their trial will provide the defendants an opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s evidence, while the police will be required to establish that they were responsible for the alleged publications and possessed the knowledge or intention required under the offences charged.
Until the court determines the case, the allegations remain accusations rather than established facts.
