A Nigerian legal practitioner, Chinenye Ruth, has declared that a loan application contacting a borrower's mother over a debt of N15,000 is not a legitimate reminder but a criminal act. She urged Nigerians to take action against loan apps that resort to such tactics and outlined the legal prohibitions under Nigerian law.
What the Law Says Loan Apps Cannot Do
Barrister Chinenye highlighted five actions that Nigerian law explicitly bars loan apps from taking against borrowers. These include contacting friends or family members without the borrower's consent, publicly labeling the borrower as a thief or fraudster, using the borrower's photos to shame them online, threatening the borrower with arrest, and engaging in repeated harassment.
According to her, these actions violate multiple legal frameworks: the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Digital Lending Guidelines 2022, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, and the Cybercrime Act 2015. She emphasized that such conduct is not a mere nuisance but a punishable offense.
Five Ways to Fight Back Against Loan Apps
In a Facebook post dated June 29, 2026, Chinenye Ruth provided a clear roadmap for borrowers to defend themselves. She stressed that borrowing money does not make a person a criminal and that evidence is crucial. The five steps she recommended are:
- Screenshot everything: Document all communications, including messages, call logs, and any attempts at harassment.
- Report to the FCCPC: File a complaint at fccpc.gov.ng, the official portal of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
- Report to the CBN: Submit a complaint via cbn.gov.ng/complaints, the Central Bank of Nigeria's dedicated channel for financial service issues.
- Report to the NDPC: Lodge a complaint with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission at ndpc.gov.ng for violations of data privacy.
- Consult a lawyer: If the damages are serious, seek legal counsel to pursue further action.
She concluded her advice with a powerful reminder: 'Evidence wins. Silence protects them.'
Legal Expert Warns of Consequences for Loan Apps
Chinenye Ruth's post has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many Nigerians sharing their own experiences of harassment by loan apps. The lawyer's intervention comes amid growing concerns over the aggressive and often illegal debt collection practices employed by some digital lending platforms.
In a related report, another lawyer previously listed five things many borrowers do not know about loan apps, further highlighting the need for consumer awareness. Additionally, a man recently shared what he called the 'spiritual' effects of using loan apps, arguing that debt carries severe implications beyond the financial realm. He warned young men to avoid borrowing altogether, stating that unpaid debts could cause spiritual harm.
How to Protect Yourself from Loan App Harassment
Experts advise borrowers to always read the terms and conditions before taking a loan, avoid granting unnecessary permissions to loan apps, and report any abusive practices to the appropriate authorities. The FCCPC, CBN, and NDPC have all issued guidelines to regulate digital lending and protect consumers from exploitative practices.
The lawyer's message is clear: loan apps that cross legal boundaries can and should be reported. Borrowers are not criminals, and the law is on their side.
