Barrister Chinenye Ruth, a Nigerian lawyer, has urged Nigerians not to remain silent when loan apps engage in unlawful debt recovery practices.
She stressed that a loan company contacting a borrower’s mother over a debt of N15,000 should not be viewed as a routine repayment reminder but as a criminal act.
Lawyer outlines what loan apps are not permitted to do
In a Facebook post shared on June 29, Barrister Chinenye listed five actions that Nigerian laws prohibit digital lending platforms from taking against borrowers.
She wrote:
“They messaged your mom over ₦15,000. That’s not a loan reminder. That’s a crime! And you can report them today.
“Here’s what Nigerian law says loan apps CANNOT do:
“Contact your friends or family without consent. “Publicly call you a thief or fraudster.
“Use your photos to shame you online.
“Threaten you with arrest.
“Harass you repeatedly.
“These actions violate the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, CBN Digital Lending Guidelines 2022, FCCPA 2018, and the Cybercrime Act 2015…”
The legal practitioner also provided guidance on the steps Nigerians can take if they become victims of such practices, encouraging them to stand up for their rights.
She wrote:
“You borrowed money. You are NOT a criminal.
“Here’s how to fight back: “Screenshot EVERYTHING.
“Report to FCCPC → fccpc.gov.ng.
“Report to CBN → cbn.gov.ng/complaints.
“Report to NDPC → ndpc.gov.ng.
“Consult a lawyer if damages are serious. “Evidence wins. Silence protects them…”
See the lawyer’s post belowÂ
