A fresh legal battle is brewing in Nigeria’s financial sector as Union Bank Plc has dragged six top executives of Opay Digital Services Limited before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged disobedience to subsisting court orders, an offence that could land them behind bars if proven.
The bank, in a committal proceeding filed before the court, is seeking the imprisonment of the company’s Managing Director, Gotring Dauda Wutrika, alongside directors Wang Dan, Wen Mingxuan, Duyao Huang Simon, Ozoemena Chijioke, and Abass Rashidat Motunrayo. They are listed as alleged contemnors in the suit marked FHC/L/CS/629/2025.
The application, brought pursuant to Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act and Order IX Rule 13 of the Judgment Enforcement Procedure Rules, is anchored on a Form 49 notice, requiring the defendants to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for contempt.
At the heart of the dispute is Union Bank’s allegation that OPay and its principal officers wilfully disregarded multiple court directives issued earlier in the year. These include Preservatory and Disclosure Orders granted on March 26, 2025, as well as a subsequent Reversal Order contained in a judgment delivered on April 15, 2025.
According to the applicant, the court had directed financial institutions, including OPay, to place a Post No Debit restriction on accounts linked to alleged wrongful transfers from Union Bank’s accounts, disclose relevant account details, and reverse any salvaged funds.
However, Union Bank claims that despite being duly served with the orders and follow-up notices, OPay allegedly failed to comply, refusing to disclose account information and neglecting to reverse the disputed funds.
The bank is now asking the court to commit the six executives to a correctional facility or place them in the custody of security agencies until they purge themselves of the alleged contempt.
Union Bank further argued that the actions, or inactions, of the executives amount to a deliberate and coordinated effort to frustrate the enforcement of lawful court orders and deprive the bank of funds allegedly diverted into customers’ accounts.
Industry observers say the case could test regulatory discipline within Nigeria’s fast-growing fintech ecosystem. Some analysts note that concerns have previously been raised over alleged delays by certain digital payment platforms in complying with court-ordered fund reversals.
They argue that the ongoing proceedings may serve as a crucial signal that no operator is above the law, particularly in a sector increasingly vulnerable to fraud and transactional disputes.
Attention is also turning to the Central Bank of Nigeria, with expectations that the regulator may step in to reinforce compliance standards and ensure prompt adherence to judicial directives by all financial service providers.
As of the time of filing this report, Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the contempt proceedings.
