A Lagos trader, Moses King, has filed a fundamental rights suit against Opay Digital Service Limited at the Federal High Court in Lagos, alleging the fintech firm unlawfully froze his account for nearly three months.
OPay
King claims this action prevented him from accessing N500,000 needed for his hospitalized father’s medical bills, contributing to the man’s death on December 15, 2025.
He seeks N50 million in exemplary damages, declarations of rights violations under the 1999 Constitution, and a public apology published in national newspapers.
Account Frozen Without Court Order
King’s account (No. 8087652738) was restricted from September 17 to December 9, 2025, via a “Post No Debit/Lien” without any court order or stated reason, according to his 23-paragraph affidavit.
He noticed the issue while trying to transact for legitimate business and contacted Opay’s customer service, which confirmed the freeze but demanded a court order for release.
Despite lawyer’s letters and repeated pleas, Opay cited only an internal “bank report,” blocking access to funds deposited specifically for his father’s hospital bills since September 10.
Severe Personal Hardship Claimed
The suit, marked FHC/L/CS/178/2026 and filed by Barrister Olalekan Ogunbunmi under Section 46(3) of the Constitution, alleges breaches of King’s rights to dignity (S.34), fair hearing (S.36), property ownership (S.43), and against compulsory acquisition (S.44).
King, a self-described law-abiding trader with no fraud history, says the freeze forced him to beg neighbors for food and directly led to his father’s demise due to unpaid bills.
He denies any illicit activity and urges the court to halt such “injust and unconstitutional” practices by fintechs.
Court Date Set, Opay Silent
Opay has not responded despite service of processes. Justice Daniel Osiagor adjourned the matter to March 2, 2026, for hearing.
This case highlights rising tensions between Nigerian users and digital banks over account restrictions amid fraud crackdowns.
