Abiodun Olokunjuwon, a retired civil servant based in Ibadan has instituted a N50 million lawsuit against Moniepoint Microfinance Bank at the Oyo State High Court, alleging that the fintech company opened unauthorized bank accounts in her name without her knowledge or consent.
Filed in February 2026, the suit is among the first significant cases testing the enforcement of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 against a Nigerian fintech institution.
According to the statement of claim, the plaintiff became aware of the alleged unauthorized accounts only after her legitimate bank account was restricted pursuant to a garnishee order linked to a debt she denies incurring.
The restriction reportedly prevented her from accessing funds needed for essential transactions.
The claimant alleges that Moniepoint opened two separate accounts in her name using her National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) without proper authorization or verification.
Following the discovery, she submitted a Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) under the NDPA 2023. Documents allegedly provided by the bank, according to the suit, revealed significant verification lapses.
The plaintiff claims the accounts were opened using falsified documents, including what she describes as a fake NIN slip and contact information unrelated to her.
She further alleges that the accounts listed a Lagos residential address where she has never lived.
The suit contends that Moniepoint failed to implement adequate identity verification and address confirmation procedures before creating and operating the accounts. It further alleges breaches of statutory obligations under the NDPA 2023, including:
- Failure to ensure personal data processed was accurate and lawfully obtained
- Failure to implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures
- Failure to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent processing of personal data
The claimant maintains that these alleged lapses resulted in serious personal and financial harm.
The plaintiff is seeking N50 million in damages for emotional distress, health complications, and disruption to her financial life.
She is also asking the court to order the permanent closure of the allegedly unauthorized accounts.
No date has been fixed for hearing on the matter.
