Man Shocked as iPhone Bought in Lagos Turns Up as Stolen in the UK
Buying a brand-new phone should bring excitement, not suspicion. But for one Nigerian man in the UK, what was supposed to be a smooth tech upgrade turned into an awkward brush with potential trouble.
Gbenga Wemimo revealed that the iPhone he bought for his wife at an Apple-authorized outlet in Jakande, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, last September was later flagged as stolen when they tried to trade it in at an Apple Store in London. His intention had been simple: to support local businesses instead of making the purchase abroad.
However, that decision nearly landed him and his wife in hot water. At the Apple Store in Westfield Stratford City, the attendant scanned the device and announced that it had been listed as stolen. Wemimo explained that they were left stunned since the phone was new, came from an official store, and they still had the receipts. Only after further checks did the staff adjust their claim, saying the phone had been reported as “missing” instead. Regardless of the terminology, the phone was given zero trade-in value.
According to Wemimo, the situation could have been worse if the store had a strict policy of reporting such cases to law enforcement. “Only God spared us from unnecessary drama. Imagine if they had called the police,” he said. The couple left the store without escalation, but the incident left a bitter taste.
Wemimo shared his disappointment, noting that such lapses erode trust in local businesses. He criticized the shortcuts often taken for quick financial gain, emphasizing that integrity should outweigh dirty profits. For him, this episode served as a painful example of why some Nigerians prefer to shop abroad despite the higher costs.
His experience underscores the importance of accountability in business transactions, particularly in a global marketplace where one faulty link can tarnish the reputation of many.
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