Sterling Bank in Fresh Crisis as NDPC Launches Probe Over Alleged Data Breach

Sterling Bank is currently facing fresh crisis as NDPC launches probe over alleged data breach.

 

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Sterling Bank is facing mounting scrutiny after the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) launched an investigation into an alleged data breach linked to the bank and other entities within Nigeria’s digital payment ecosystem.

 

The probe, which also involves Remita Payment Services Limited, comes amid growing concerns about the safety of personal data handled by financial institutions operating digital payment platforms in Nigeria.

 

In a statement issued by the NDPC’s Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, Babatunde Bamigboye, the commission confirmed that a Notice of Investigation was formally served on April 1, 2026, with relevant organisations now required to provide information related to the incident.

 

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According to the commission, the investigation will examine the types of personal data potentially exposed, the scope and nature of the alleged breach, and the level of risk posed to affected data subjects. Authorities will also review the mitigation measures implemented by the organisations involved if the breach is confirmed.

 

The development places Sterling Bank under renewed regulatory pressure, as the NDPC moves to enforce compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

 

NDPC National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Vincent Olatunji, has directed that organisations deploying digital payment systems without adequate technical and organisational safeguards required under the law will face scrutiny as part of a broader effort to protect Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem.

 

While the investigation is ongoing, regulators say the priority remains ensuring that citizens’ personal data is protected and that institutions handling sensitive financial information meet required data security standards.

 

The probe adds to rising concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital banking and payment infrastructure, with regulators increasingly warning that failure to strengthen data protection frameworks could expose millions of users to risks.