The Police on Friday arraigned two women before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly conspiring to circulate false information that Access Bank Plc would shut down its operations from September 23, 2026, and urging customers to close their accounts and withdraw their funds.
The defendants, Idorenyin Samuel Umoh and Fineness Monday Esu, were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, transmission of false information through computer systems and networks, and publication of a false statement allegedly capable of causing fear and alarm among members of the public.
The charge, marked FHC/L/CR/773/2026, was filed by the Police through their prosecuting counsel, Stanley Nwafoaku, of the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The defendants were alleged to have committed the offences on or about July 28, 2026, in Lagos.
When the three-count charge was read to them, both defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following their pleas, Nwafoaku urged the court to remand them in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending trial.
However, Cynthia Nwanpu, who appeared for the defendants in place of their counsel, Ifenna Okeke, asked the court for a short date to enable the defence to file a formal application for their bail.
Justice Akintayo Aluko subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The judge adjourned the case until November 25, 2026, for trial, while directing that any bail application filed by the defence be given expeditious hearing.
In the first count, the Police alleged that Umoh and Esu conspired among themselves and with other persons still at large to knowingly transmit and cause the transmission of a false publication through computer systems and networks concerning Access Bank.
According to the charge, the publication claimed that the bank would shut down its operations with effect from September 23, 2026, and urged all customers to close their accounts and withdraw their funds.
The Police alleged that the publication was made for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order.
The alleged offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
In the second count, the defendants were accused of knowingly and intentionally sending and causing the transmission, through Facebook and WhatsApp, of a publication they allegedly knew to be false.
The publication purportedly represented that Access Bank was shutting down its banking operations from September 23, 2026, while urging members of the public and customers of the bank to close their accounts and withdraw their funds.
The Police alleged that the publication was made for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order.
The alleged offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
In the third count, the defendants were accused of knowingly publishing and/or reproducing a statement, rumour or report, having reason to believe that it was false, to the effect that Access Bank would shut down its operations from September 23, 2026.
The Police further alleged that the publication urged customers to close their accounts and withdraw their funds and was likely to cause fear and alarm among members of the public and disturb the public peace.
The alleged offence in the third count was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The defendants’ pleas followed the presentation of the charge before Justice Aluko.
With the court ordering their remand pending the determination of the bail application and commencement of trial, the matter was adjourned until November 25, 2026.
