A Nigerian lawyer has advised borrowers on the legal steps they can take if loan apps post their pictures online, contact family members, or circulate false information in an attempt to recover debts.
The lawyer, identified as @msadedoyin__, shared the advice in a video, stressing that while borrowers are expected to repay legitimate debts, loan recovery agents have no legal right to harass, intimidate, or defame debtors.
According to her, some loan apps have resorted to posting debtors’ photographs as obituaries, sending messages to their contacts, and making repeated calls to family members and friends over unpaid loans.
“So I’m hearing that in 2026, loan apps are posting people’s obituaries over debt. That’s so bold of them and very illegal too. They start calling your contacts, messaging your family, posting you like you’re a criminal, even editing your picture like you’re dead,” she said.
The lawyer noted that owing a loan is a civil matter and not a criminal offence under Nigerian law.
“Owing a loan is not a crime in Nigeria. If a loan app does that, they’re the ones breaking the law. That’s defamation, harassment and even data privacy violation. I’m not saying you shouldn’t pay your debt though, but don’t accept intimidation,” she added.
She explained that debtors who are subjected to such treatment can report the offending loan app to the appropriate authorities and seek legal redress.
According to her, victims may also institute legal action and claim damages where their rights have been violated through harassment, defamation, or unlawful use of personal data.
“You can report them and even sue them for damages because, as far as I know, debt is not a crime, but harassment is,” she stated.
Her comments sparked reactions from Nigerians, many of whom shared personal experiences of alleged harassment by loan recovery agents, including repeated calls to contacts, threatening messages, and the circulation of altered photographs.
The development comes amid growing concerns over the debt recovery practices of some digital lending platforms, with consumer rights advocates calling for stricter enforcement of data protection and lending regulations in Nigeria.
source: Legit.ng