Ibadan Woman Sues Moniepoint Over Alleged Privacy Breach

Ibadan Woman Sues Moniepoint Over Alleged Privacy Breach

An Ibadan-based woman, Abiodun Olokunjuwon, has dragged Moniepoint Microfinance Bank Ltd before the Oyo State High Court, alleging that the bank unlawfully opened and operated accounts in her name without her consent.

The suit, filed at the High Court of Oyo State, Ibadan Judicial Division, and marked M1W/014/2026, was instituted on February 11, 2026. In her court filings, Olokunjuwon claimed that two separate accounts were created on the bank’s platform using her National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) without her knowledge or authorisation.

According to the claimant, the accounts were opened without proper due diligence or verification procedures, thereby exposing her personal information to potential misuse.

She further alleged that transactions conducted through the disputed accounts triggered restrictions on her legitimate bank accounts by another financial institution, causing her considerable hardship.

Olokunjuwon is asking the court to declare that the bank’s actions amount to a violation of her constitutional right to privacy as enshrined in Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

She also contended that the alleged use of her personal data for the purpose of opening and operating the accounts contravenes provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, specifically Sections 24(1)(a), (e) and (f), as well as Section 24(3). In addition, she cited Article 32(1) of the NDPA General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) 2025 in support of her claims.

Among the reliefs sought, the plaintiff is urging the court to order the immediate and permanent closure of the two accounts and the deletion of all personal data linked to them, including her NIN, BVN and phone number.

She is further demanding N50 million in general damages for what she described as the unlawful processing of her personal information and the breach of her constitutional rights. Additionally, she is seeking N500,000 to cover the cost of the legal action.

When contacted, a senior official of the bank, who requested anonymity, said the company had yet to be formally served with court processes.

“We have seen the reports circulating in the media,” the official said, “but our legal team has confirmed that we have not been served with any documents from the court.”

The case is expected to test compliance standards within Nigeria’s rapidly expanding fintech sector, particularly in relation to data protection and customer verification procedures.