Shola Akinyele
A Nigerian man, Gbenga Samuel Wemimo, has raised alarm after his wife’s brand-new iPhone, allegedly purchased from a supposed official Apple Store in Jakande, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, was flagged as stolen during a routine trade-in attempt at an Apple outlet in the United Kingdom.
According to Wemimo, the shocking discovery was made when staff at the Westfield Stratford City Apple Store in London scanned the device and declared it reported stolen. After further checks, they downgraded the status to “missing” but insisted the phone had no swap value.
Wemimo, who shared his ordeal on X (formerly Twitter), said the situation could have escalated badly, as the staff nearly called the police — an incident he feared might have jeopardized his stay in the UK.
However, the management of Apple Store Lekki, through their legal representatives, has denied the allegations. In a letter dated August 18, 2025, the store accused Wemimo of defaming their brand, insisting that neither he nor his wife ever purchased a phone from their outlet.
The store demanded that Wemimo take down his post, issue a public apology across major social media platforms and publications, and disclose the actual source of the iPhone, failing which they threatened legal action.
The controversy has since ignited debates on social media over the credibility of retail outlets in Nigeria, with many Nigerians expressing concern about integrity in business practices and the risks of buying electronics locally.
Wemimo, however, has vowed to pursue the matter strongly, insisting that the incident nearly put him in grave danger abroad and that questions must be answered.
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