Two women remanded for allegedly circulating fake news against Access Bank

By Adenike Ayodele

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday ordered the remand of two women identified as Idorenyin Umobh and Finness Esu for allegedly publishing false information about Access Bank.

This followed arraignment of Umobh and Esu on a three-count charge of conspiracy, peddling false information and cyberstalking.

Justice Akintayo Aluko, while remanding the defendants in custody, adjourned the case until Nov. 25 for trial, pending the filing of a bail application by the defence counsel.

The prosecutor, Stanley Nwafoaku, in a case marked FHC/L/CR/773/2026, alleged that the defendants, on July 28 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the court, conspired among themselves and with other persons now at large to knowingly transmit and cause the transmission of a false publication through computer systems and networks concerning Access Bank Plc.

The prosecutor told the court that the defendants, in the alleged false publication, claimed that the bank would shut down its operations effective Sept. 23 and urged all customers to close their accounts and withdraw their funds.

He alleged that the offence of conspiracy to cause a breakdown of law and order contravened and was punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

According to the prosecutor, the offence also contravenes Section 24(1)(b) and punishable under the same provision of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

Nwafoaku further alleged that the offence breached Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending trial.

However, the defence counsel, Mr Ifenna Okeke, asked the court for a short date to enable him to file a formal bail application. (NAN)