7,715 Nigerians Signs Petition to Stop Loan Companies in Nigeria from Harassing and Messaging Non-borrowers.
A Nigerian activist Daniel Iragunima has dragged some loan companies to court after receiving several unsolicited messaging harassing and directing him to compel a customer who borrowed money to pay up their debt.
Daniel stressed that this contradicted the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019 which stipulates that lending companies should obtain consent from customers before using the contact numbers inside their phone to send messages.
The petition which is powered by change.org has so far gotten 7,715 signs up and endorsements from Nigerians who as a matter of fact are fed up with the way and manner Loan Companies operates in Nigeria.
Find below a copy of the petition:
“Daniel Iragunima started this petition to Receivers of Unsolicited Messages from Loan Companies We observed a new trend of certain loan companies in Nigeria sending unsolicited and/or defamatory messages to people on the contact list of persons who have borrowed money from them, which is in complete breach of the extant Data Protection Regulation.
Narrative
I recently received a message from Soko Lending Company Limited, requesting that I ask one of its client to repay a loan, and upon informing them that I neither knew their client nor was I aware of any such transaction, they admitted to getting my phone number from the contact list of their client. Shortly after, different friends began screenshotting and forwarding the same kind of messages to me, requesting for my advice including messages received from OTP Internet Technology Limited. I must confess that some of these messages were clearly defamatory in nature, they labeled the lending company’s client and their family as fraudsters.
READ: Want to Become A Farmer? Get All the Training and Seed Capital from Crystal Farmers Cooperative
Breach
Failure of the lending company to obtain your consent before using your phone number to send unsolicited messages to you.
What Is the Implication?
These companies may be fined up to N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira only) by virtue of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019, which requires that such companies seek and obtain your consent before the use of your phone numbers (data) to send you unsolicited messages.
READ: BREAKING: Nigeria Army Allegedly Attacks Enugu Community Killing Many Unarmed Civilians (VIDEO)
For messages that are defamatory in nature, I advise that the defamed family contact a lawyer to advise them on the legal action to be taken to claim damages, against these companies.
As we tackle the breach of Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, we hope these lending companies are in compliance with other laws that regulate their business including the Money Lending laws of various States, which requires that they be licensed.
Action Required
The only way to stop these companies from sending unsolicited and/or defamatory messages is by taking action, within the bounds of the law, against them.
We have submitted a petition to the National Information Technology Development Agency and we call on everyone who has experienced this or knows someone who has to kindly sign the online petition and send us a screen shot of all the messages sent by these companies about the debt or fraudulent nature of their client.
Please send all screen shots via e-mail to probono@nmaxlaw.com or WhatsApp to +234(0)809-036-3330.
Conclusion
Your action will help in putting an end to these contravening actions by ensuring that an Order is issued barring these company from continuing such actions and sanctioning these company.”
CLICK HERE TO ALSO SIGN THE PETITION
7,715 Nigerians Signs Petition to Stop Loan Companies in Nigeria from Harassing and Messaging Non-borrowers.
Professional freelancer and webmaster.
+ There are no comments
Add yours