Two women have been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of conspiring to circulate false information claiming that Access Bank Plc would shut down its operations on September 23, 2026, prompting customers to close their accounts and withdraw their funds.
The defendants, Idorenyin Samuel Umoh and Fineness Monday Esu, were arraigned by the Police prosecuting counsel, Stanley Nwafoaku, of the Directorate of Legal Services, Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Nigeria Police Force, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The three-count charge accused the defendants of conspiring with other persons now at large to disseminate false information about the bank through computer systems and networks, particularly via Facebook and WhatsApp.
When the charges were read to them, both defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following their pleas, Nwafoaku urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service and fix a date for trial.
However, Cynthia Nwanpu, who appeared on behalf of Ifenna Okeke, counsel to the defendants, requested a short adjournment to enable the defence to file a formal bail application.
The presiding judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko, ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service and adjourned the case until November 25, 2026, for trial, pending the filing of the bail application, which he said would be given expeditious hearing.
The charges, filed by the police prosecuting counsel in suit number FHC/L/CR/773/2026, read:
Count One
“That you, IDORENYIN SAMUEL UMOH and FINENESS MONDAY ESU, on or about the 28th day of July 2026, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves and with other persons now at large to knowingly transmit and cause the transmission of a false publication through the means of computer systems and networks, concerning Access Bank Plc, to the effect that the Bank was shutting down its operations with effect from 23rd September 2026 and that all customers should close their accounts and withdraw their funds, an act done for the purpose of causing a breach of law and order, and thereby committed an offence of conspiracy, contrary to and punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024).”
Count Two
“That you, IDORENYIN SAMUEL UMOH and FINENESS MONDAY ESU, on or about the 28th day of July 2026, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly and intentionally sent and caused the transmission, through Facebook and WhatsApp, of a publication which you knew to be false, representing that Access Bank Plc was shutting down its banking operations with effect from 23rd September 2026 and urging members of the public and customers of the Bank to close their accounts and withdraw their funds, an act done for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24(1)(b) and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024).”
Count Three
“That you, IDORENYIN SAMUEL UMOH and FINENESS MONDAY ESU, on or about the 28th day of July 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly, or having reason to believe that the same was false, published and/or reproduced a statement, rumour or report that Access Bank Plc was shutting down its operations effective 23rd September 2026 and that customers should close their accounts and withdraw their funds, which publication was likely to cause fear and alarm to the public and disturb the public peace, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
