Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
LAGOS, Nigeria — A customer has filed a N50 million lawsuit against Opay Digital Service Limited, alleging that the fintech company unlawfully froze his mobile money account, effectively preventing him from accessing funds needed to pay medical bills for his hospitalized father — who later died, according to court filings.
The suit, FHC/L/CS/178/2026, was filed this week at the Federal High Court in Lagos by Moses King through his counsel, Barrister Olalekan Ogunbunmi. King argues that OPay placed a Post No Debit (PND) order on his account (No. 8087652738) from September 17 to December 9, 2025, without a valid court order or lawful cause, restricting his access to approximately ₦500,000.
In the fundamental rights action filed under the 1999 Constitution (Section 46(3)), King contends that he repeatedly contacted OPay’s customer service seeking explanation and restoration of access, but was told only a court order could unlock the funds. According to the affidavits supporting the suit, OPay never produced such an order nor provided a justification for the freeze.
King said the frozen funds were intended to be used to settle his father’s hospital bills. His father, who had been admitted since September 10, 2025, reportedly died on December 15, 2025, without the needed payments being made because of restricted access to the account. The suit claims the freeze constituted a breach of his constitutional rights, including his rights to own movable property, fair hearing, and dignity of human person, and that OPay’s actions were “illegal, wrongful, unlawful and unconstitutional.”
The lawsuit seeks several declarations from the court, including a ruling that the account restriction was unlawful, an order compelling OPay to issue a public apology in national newspapers, and ₦50 million in exemplary damages for the alleged breach of rights and the consequences that followed. The legal team argues that the inability to access the funds directly affected King’s ability to care for his ailing father.
OPay has faced other legal challenges over similar issues in recent years. Nigerian courts have previously ruled against the company for freezing customer accounts without judicial authority, including a case that saw damages awarded to a customer whose account was unlawfully restricted. These precedents highlight the growing scrutiny around account freezes by fintech firms and the broader expectations of legal compliance when restricting access to customer funds.
As of this report, OPay has not issued a public comment on the latest lawsuit. The case is expected to unfold through the Lagos Federal High Court, where the claimant’s legal team will seek both statutory and compensatory remedies.
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