A Nigerian lawyer has offered guidance to individuals facing intimidation from loan apps, shedding light on facts about some loan apps that many borrowers may not be aware of.
The lawyer explained the options available to Nigerians who experience harassment, threats, or pressure from loan apps after falling behind on repayments.
Nigerian Lawyer Explains How To Handle Loan Apps
In a post shared on her Facebook page, Confidence Aribibia addressed the growing concerns surrounding certain loan apps, alleging that some operate without proper authorization and often depend on fear tactics to pressure users.
She wrote: “You took a Loan From an App now you’re Living in Fear? Read this. Let me speak to you as a lawyer, not to scare you but to wake you up. That loan app that is threatening you. Calling your contacts. Sending messages to people in your phone.
“Ask yourself one question: Are they even operating legally? Because here is the truth many people are too afraid to say out loud. Some of these so-called “loan companies” are not licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria. No license, no proper structure, no accountability.
“Yet they act like they own your life. The moment you delay payment, they switch to: Threats, Harassment public embarrassment, Psychological pressure, And you start panicking.”
Aribibia went on to argue that many unlicensed loan apps rely heavily on fear and intimidation because legal enforcement may not be on their side when dealing with defaulting borrowers.
“Listen carefully. Fear is their biggest weapon not the law because in law: You cannot enforce rights when you are operating outside the law. You cannot come to court with “dirty hands” and expect protection.
“Now here is the part many people don’t know. If a loan app is not properly licensed: Their legal standing is already questionable. Those outrageous interest charges become highly problematic. Their threats are mostly empty intimidation tactics.”
The lawyer further maintained that several of the warnings and punishments frequently cited by such platforms may not be legally enforceable, particularly when the operators themselves are not compliant with regulatory requirements.
“Let me shock you a little that app shouting that they will arrest you, block your BVN, destroy your credit forever. Most times they cannot legally do any of that. What they rely on is simple: Your ignorance + your fear. The moment you understand your rights their power reduces instantly.
Now, let me be clear so nobody misquotes me. This is NOT an excuse to run away from a genuine debt. If you borrowed money, you should repay. But never allow them to intimidate you into silence and fear. If they truly want to go legal they will have to Identify themselves, show their license, prove they are operating within the law and that is exactly what many of them try to avoid.”
She encouraged borrowers to remain informed and avoid reacting out of panic whenever they receive threatening messages from loan apps, urging them instead to seek clarity and understand their rights.
Conclusively, she added: “So next time they start shouting. Don’t just panic. Ask questions. Now tell me. Have you or someone you know ever been harassed by any of these loan apps? What exactly did they do?”
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