A recent incident involving a Nigerian pastor has reignited concerns over the authenticity of Apple products sold in Nigeria, following a troubling experience at an Apple Store in London.
Pastor Gbenga Samuel Wemimo of Gbenga Samuel Wemimo Ministries International (GSWMI) shared his ordeal on social media after attempting to trade in an iPhone purchased in Lagos at the Apple Store located in Westfield Stratford City Arcade, London.
The device, initially declared “stolen” and later “missing” by store attendants, was deemed ineligible for trade-in, raising alarms about the legitimacy of Apple retail outlets in Nigeria.
“My wife bought a brand new iPhone at the Apple store located at Jakande, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos last September,” Pastor Wemimo wrote. “We decided to trade it in for a new one today at the Apple Store in London. Only God did not let them call the police on us.”
Despite presenting receipts and proof of purchase, the couple was informed that the device had been flagged in Apple’s system. “Somehow we were able to walk out of that Apple Store without any drama,” he added, expressing frustration over what he described as a systemic issue of corner-cutting in Nigerian business practices.
No Official Apple Stores in Nigeria
The incident has sparked widespread debate online, with many Nigerians questioning whether any Apple retail outlet in the country is officially recognized by the tech giant.
Social media users weighed in with varying perspectives:
@EdionweB stated, “No Apple store in Nigeria is recognised by Apple itself. None. It is owned by an individual who sells Apple products. If it is original, fake or stolen depends on the person’s integrity as a business person.”
@Localmann_ added, “Sometimes people abroad buy a phone overseas, bring it to Nigeria for sale, and then go back and report it stolen for replacement.”
Kamal (@kamakarzy247) cautioned against generalizing, noting that similar incidents have occurred in the UK: “My friend bought a brand new phone here in the UK and was asked to report to the police because the phone had been reported stolen. This happened in Leicester in 2023.”
Apple Among Top Phishing Targets Globally
The controversy comes amid rising global concerns about brand impersonation and digital fraud. According to a July 2025 report by cybersecurity firm Check Point, Apple ranked third among the most impersonated brands in phishing attacks during Q2 2025, following Microsoft (25%) and Google (11%). Apple accounted for 9% of global phishing attempts between April and June.
Phishing attacks typically involve cybercriminals posing as trusted brands to deceive users into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, or login credentials.
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