Owning an iPhone in Nigeria might be a luxury, but it can also put you in trouble. This is the story of Ake Victor (real name withheld), a Nigerian based in the United Kingdom (UK).

Victor told FIJ that he purchased a used iPhone XR from TheElects, a Lagos-based company that sells used and new smartphones, laptops and accessories.

FIJ understands that Victor bought the phone for N235,000 in July 2020, long before he relocated to the UK. While Victor was trying to re-sell the phone to Buyur Limited, a technology company in the UK, four years after the purchase, the phone was flagged red, meaning it had either been previously reported lost or stolen.

The implication is that the phone could be impounded and then possibly returned to the actual owner, with Victor having no choice but to bear the financial loss.

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“I got this phone in 2020 from TheElects store in Lagos. After four years, I got a new phone and I tried reselling my phone to a refurbished phone company in the UK because I had relocated, only for me to realise that the phone didn’t pass the security check and had been reported stolen and missing since March 11, 2020,” Victor explained to FIJ.

According to the policy of Buyur Limited, the status of every mobile phone they receive has to be checked against the National CheckMEND database, which helps certify any used device with a background history check.

A copy of the search result from the CheckMEND database sighted by FIJ shows the following: “Currently blocked: The device has been reported lost or stolen to a phone network and will not function on some networks.”

Because of its policy regarding flagged phones, Buyur Limited emailed Victor on March 11, saying the company would not be able to return the device until the issue was resolved.

Victor was instructed to contact CheckMEND, as well as the Nigerian company that sold the phone to him, “to discuss the restrictions on the device” as part of the requirements to resolve the dispute.

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Although TheElects informed Victor that their search indicated the iPhone was free from any blacklisting when he contacted them on the issue via WhatsApp, he told FIJ that the company was likely not doing enough in terms of background checks.

“It seems the so-called phone vendor is buying phones from suppliers without doing background checks. I tried reaching out to TheElects. You will be surprised at the lame excuse and funny solution he was projecting,” he said.

“I need them to validate the authenticity of the phone. If not, my phone will be impounded after 28 days, and they have to bear the loss.”

RESPONSE FROM THEELECTS

When FIJ messaged TheElects via WhatsApp on Thursday, the company refuted the claims of a lack of due diligence. He also confirmed the receipt of Victor’s purchase.

“For clarity, we purchase our phones and the devices we sell from vendors in the United States of America. We are made to understand that they conduct the required due diligence before these phones are then sold to us, as you must be aware that most of the phones are used products,” it wrote.

“On the said payment receipt, please note that this transaction that happened four years ago has been brought to our attention, and we have confirmed our stand with the client and have cooperated at every point.”

“My company has no transaction with the company abroad; therefore, there is no basis for us reaching out to them. If they reach out to us, we will respond.”

The company also claimed that it offered to give Victor the value of the device based on the current buying price but he refused.

In response to the offer from the Lagos phone seller, Victor told FIJ: “He offered $100, and what I’m supposed to get from those people I’m selling to in the UK is way beyond that.”