A Nigerian legal expert has stepped forward to provide crucial guidance for citizens facing intimidation from digital lending platforms. The lawyer, known online as @remotelawyher, clarified that harassment tactics employed by many loan applications violate Nigerian law, regardless of whether customers have outstanding debts.
Your Legal Rights Against Loan Sharks
The lawyer emphasized that borrowing money does not surrender your constitutional rights to privacy and dignity. She illustrated a common scenario: "You borrowed N10,000 from their app and you miss repayment by a few days, and then suddenly, they start calling your family, messaging your boss, and even threatening to post your pictures online." According to her professional assessment, these intimidation methods are unequivocally illegal under Nigerian legislation.
@remotelawyher explicitly stated that loan apps have no legal authority to harass, embarrass, contact friends and family, send defamatory messages, or publish personal images online. These actions represent clear violations of constitutional protections that remain in effect even when repayment deadlines are missed.
Official Recourse Through Government Channels
The legal professional identified the Federal Consumer Protection Council (FCPC) as the appropriate government agency where victims can file formal complaints against predatory lending practices. This recommendation provides Nigerians with a concrete path to address cyber-stalking and harassment from digital lenders.
She further explained that while financial institutions have the right to recover loans, they must follow due process rather than resorting to intimidation tactics. The distinction between legal recovery procedures and illegal harassment forms the cornerstone of her advice to distressed borrowers.
Public Reaction and Widespread Concerns
Social media responses to the lawyer's guidance reveal the extensive impact of loan app harassment across Nigeria. One user, @it's me baby it's me, expressed desperation: "Can I sue okash they wan call me to glory and they are stressing me mentally."
Another comment from @adewealth highlighted the severe emotional toll: "Please help me they have texting that the would call my contact on contact list this threating is too much i havent eaten for the past 3 days now." These testimonials underscore the urgent need for legal protection against predatory lending practices.
The public discussion also revealed varying borrower approaches, with @Young Charli commenting: "Wait oo, if una borrow money from loan app una dey pay back? I Don collect from 23 app I never pay and I will never try it." Meanwhile, @KEZY noted discovering that several apps she had borrowed from operated illegally after checking her credit score.
This legal clarification comes as many Nigerians struggle with financial pressures and turn to digital lending platforms for emergency funds, only to face potentially illegal collection methods that compound their difficulties.
