Customer Sues Opay, Says Account Restriction Led To Father’s Death

 Opay Digital Service Limited, one of the fintech mobile money firms operating in Nigeria, has been dragged before a Federal High Court in Lagos by one of its depositors over the alleged unlawful freezing of his account.

The applicant, Moses King, claimed that the action led to the death of his father.

King instituted the suit against Opay Digital Service Limited through a Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure pursuant to Section 46(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/178/2026, filed by his lawyer, Barrister Olalekan Ogunbunmi, the applicant is seeking several reliefs against the fintech company.

He is asking the court to declare that the freezing of his account, number 8087652738, from September 17, 2025 to December 9, 2025, without a court order or just cause, was illegal, wrongful, unconstitutional, and a violation of his fundamental rights.

King further argued that the restriction prevented him from accessing N500,000 meant for his father’s hospital bills, which he said resulted in his father’s death.

Among the reliefs sought are:

A declaration that the account restriction violated his constitutional rights.

A declaration that withholding his funds without lawful authority was illegal.

A declaration that the restriction directly contributed to his father’s death.

An order directing Opay to publish a public apology in two national newspapers.

Payment of N50 million as exemplary damages.

In a 23-paragraph affidavit supporting the application, King stated that he is a trader who has long operated the account for legitimate business transactions.

He said he discovered on September 17, 2025, that he could no longer carry out transactions on the account. After contacting customer service, he was informed that a Post No Debit (PND) restriction had been placed on the account.

According to him, the company allegedly failed to provide any court order authorising the restriction and only told him he needed a court order to regain access.

He added that repeated visits and inquiries yielded no explanation.

King said his lawyer later wrote to the company requesting either removal of the lien or provision of a court order. However, he claimed that the company admitted there was no court order and that the restriction was based on an internal bank report.

He stated that the funds in the account were specifically meant to pay his father’s hospital bills, but the restriction left him unable to access the money.

“That inability to access my personal savings account led to the death of my father because I could not pay his hospital bills,” he averred.

He also maintained that he has never engaged in fraudulent transactions and described himself as a law-abiding citizen.

The applicant further alleged that the restriction caused him severe hardship, forcing him at some point to rely on neighbours for food.

Opay Digital Service Limited is yet to file a response to the suit despite being served with the court processes.

Justice Daniel Osiagor has fixed March 2 for hearing of the case.