Two Women Arraigned, Remanded For Cyberstalking Access Bank

The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned two women before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly spreading false publication that Access Bank Plc is shutting down its operations.

The defendants, Idorenyin Samuel Umoh and Fineness Monday Esu, were arraigned by Police prosecuting counsel Stanley Nwafoaku from the Directorate of Legal Services of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.

When the three-count charge marked FHC/L/CR/773/2026 was read to them, the two defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea, Barrister Nwafoaku urged the court to remand them in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service and fix a date for trial.

However, Cynthia Nwanpu, who stood in for Ifenna Okeke, counsel for both defendants, asked for a short date to file a formal bail application.

The presiding Judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko, while remanding the defendants in custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, adjourned the matter till 25th November 2026 for trial, pending when the defence counsel files the bail application, which the court said will be given expeditious hearing.

According to the charge filed by the police, the defendants allegedly conspired to cause the transmission of false publication concerning Access Bank.

The charges 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 breakdown of law and order, and thereby committed an offence of Conspiracy, Contrary 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 effective 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 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 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.