Six top executives of OPay Digital Service Limited are at risk of committal to prison following a contempt application filed by Union Bank Of Nigeria Plc before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged disobedience to court orders.
The suit, marked FHC/L/CS/629/2025, lists the Managing Director of OPay, Gotring Dauda Wutrika, alongside five directors, Wang Dan, Wen Mingxuan, Duyao Huang Simon, Ozoemena Chijioke, and Abass Rashidat Motunrayo — as alleged contemnors.
The application, brought pursuant to a Form 49 (Notice to Show Cause Why an Order of Committal Should Not Be Made) under Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, 1990, and Order IX Rule 13 of the Judgment Enforcement Procedure Rules, seeks to hold the executives accountable for what the applicant describes as willful and deliberate disobedience of valid court orders.
Union Bank is asking the court to commit the respondents to a correctional centre for allegedly failing to comply with Preservatory and Disclosure Orders issued on March 26, 2025, as well as a Reversal Order contained in the court’s judgment delivered on April 15, 2025.
According to court filings, the bank is also seeking an order directing that the cited executives remain in custody until they purge themselves of the alleged contempt.
The applicant outlined several grounds for the application, stating that the court had earlier directed OPay and other financial institutions to place a Post No Debit restriction on accounts identified as beneficiaries of wrongful transfers and to disclose details of recovered funds through an affidavit of compliance.
Union Bank further argued that despite being duly served with the court orders, OPay allegedly failed and/or refused to comply. The bank also claimed that the fintech company did not disclose relevant account details of the beneficiaries, nor reverse the salvaged funds as directed by the court.
The bank maintains that the executives, as principal officers of the company, are responsible for the alleged non-compliance, which it described as a deliberate attempt to frustrate the enforcement of the court’s orders.
Industry observers note that the case raises broader concerns about regulatory compliance within Nigeria’s rapidly expanding fintech sector. Some stakeholders have called on the Central Bank Of Nigeria to strengthen oversight and ensure that all operators adhere strictly to judicial directives, particularly in cases involving fraud and fund recovery.
As of the time of filing this report, Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the contempt proceedings.
