A Lagos man, Pastor Gbenga Samuel-Wemimo, had a rude shock after attempting to trade in a brand-new iPhone at an Apple Store in London’s Westfield Stratford City—only to be told the device was flagged as “stolen”, and later described as “missing,” despite presenting valid receipts and proof of purchase. The incident, recounted on social media, nearly escalated into legal action in the UK.
The device in question was purchased last September from what appeared to be an “Apple Store” in Jakande, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. However, it’s now clear that there are no official Apple retail stores in Nigeria (only authorised resellers) raising broader concerns about the authenticity and traceability of iPhones sold locally.
This incident has sparked heated debate online. One user bluntly wrote:
“No Apple store in Nigeria is recognised by Apple itself... If it is original, fake or stolen depends on the person’s integrity as a business person.”
Another expert highlighted that sometimes devices imported legally into Nigeria end up flagged due to insurance fraud or loss reports made overseas, creating false positives when scanned abroad.
As the Lekki reseller conducts internal reviews, the incident underscores critical gaps in cross-border device verification and the urgent need for stronger regulation in Nigeria’s tech retail sector. Experts are urging consumers to verify IMEI numbers, insist on authorised sources, and register devices with the NCC’s Device Management System (DMS) to avoid getting caught in such pitfalls.
Photo credit: Unsplash
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