Access Bank Faces False Shutdown Scare as FCID Arrests Two

Access Bank Plc was thrown into a potentially damaging crisis after a fake social media publication falsely announced that the bank would shut down operations and advised customers to close their accounts and withdraw their funds.

The development prompted the bank to petition the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Lagos, which subsequently arrested two women allegedly linked to the circulation of the publication.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, FCID Annex, Lagos, AIG Simeon U. Akpanudom, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists on major investigative breakthroughs and crime-fighting achievements recorded by the command between June 25 and September 18, 2026.

According to him, the FCID received a petition dated July 30, 2026, from Country Hill Attorney & Solicitors, on behalf of Access Bank Plc, over a publication dated July 28, 2026, which was posted on Facebook by one Idorenyin Umoh.

The publication, which purportedly emanated from Access Bank, claimed that the bank would shut down its operations effective September 23, 2026, while strongly advising customers to close their accounts and withdraw their funds.

AIG Akpanudom said the publication circulated rapidly across other social media platforms within 24 hours, raising concerns about its potential impact on the bank and the wider financial system.

The police boss said the bank petitioned the FCID because it believed the publication could trigger a run on the bank, cause its collapse, create an economic crisis and result in national embarrassment.

Following the petition, detectives commenced what the AIG described as a discreet and intelligence-led investigation, leading to the arrest of Umoh and her alleged associate, Fineness Monday Esu, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Preliminary investigation, according to the police, established that both suspects were members of a WhatsApp group known as “Queendom”.

The police alleged that Esu posted the message in the group at about 9:04am on July 28, while Umoh allegedly copied the message and published it on her Facebook account, “Aidee Umoh”, which has more than 12,000 followers.

The two suspects have since been arraigned at the Federal High Court, Lagos, on charges bordering on conspiracy, false publication, fabrication and digital dissemination of malicious falsehood, economic sabotage and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.

The case highlights the potential financial and reputational consequences of unverified information circulated through social media, particularly when such claims concern the stability or continued operation of a major financial institution.

The FCID said the investigation and prosecution of the suspects were part of its broader efforts to combat economic sabotage, fraud and activities capable of undermining public confidence in legitimate businesses and critical institutions.