Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad has appealed to OPay to reconsider the arrest of Haifa, a young woman and student who allegedly published a controversial post about the fintech company.
In a lengthy statement shared on X, Ahmad said he agreed that Haifa’s action was wrong but questioned why she was arrested after allegedly complying with OPay’s demands to delete the post and apologise.
“We all know that what Haifa did was wrong and virtually nobody supported her actions. However, I have questions about what happened afterwards,” he wrote.
Ahmad said his understanding was that OPay asked Haifa to remove the post and issue an apology within a specified timeframe, which he claimed she did.
He therefore questioned why the company would still proceed with her arrest, particularly if social media pressure had influenced the decision.
The former presidential aide appealed to OPay to release Haifa, arguing that she had acknowledged her mistake and complied with the corrective steps requested.
“We can condemn what Haifa did without condemning her as a person. We can hold people accountable for their mistakes while still showing compassion,” he added.
His comments have since generated mixed reactions from Nigerians on X.
@Aimasikho: You did not make the same appeal for justice for the murdered Deborah. This type of statement is the reason why terrorism is yet to be defeated
@Wall__flowerrr: You guys really think it’s that easy to just let her go ?? Think about the damages she caused them too.. The millions they’ve lost because of that her tweet
@Adetunde__: That’s not the first time they are doing that, so she’s just a scapegoat. If she can’t pay damages she should do jail.
@kolawole_abd: Maliciously prompting or causing a ‘RUN’ on a financial institution is an economic crime. She might go to jail if taken to court.
@kingnathversion: I’m not surprised by your tweet, it’s with this same mentality that you guys ran the affairs of Nigerians for 8 years.
@Fortis699: @OPay_NG if Oner no fold na me go first close my account, ensure to finish the job. When e reach this one this fool get mouth
@abubakar16014: Go buy placard and mount to their office na, because she’s from arewa
@uberguru01: Would you say same thing if the name was “Chibuzo or oluwatosin”?
@PluckerXBD: Does anyone has the screenshot of the post?
@CHRISOBINNA: Haifa also needs to mention the sponsors. The arrest might just be for further interrogation
@kunle_adesina: That’s never a mistake she should be punished for misleading millions of Nigerian because of her reckless so that others like her will think twice before posting fake news
@itz_Hamzxy: This is part of the reasons why our society will never get better, let her face the consequences of her action.
@UchennaOguagha1: Are you ok, as in you want to punish her actions without punishing her. Story teller.