Nigerian writer Onyeka Nwelue has called out social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, of selling fake iPhones after building his reputation on calling out businesses that lacked National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) certification.
Nwelue made the allegation in a post on his official X account on Saturday, where he wrote, “VeryDarkMan started with calling out entities without NAFDAC numbers. Now, he is selling fake iPhones. Nigerians are wonderful people.”
His comment has triggered a wider debate on the credibility of the influencer who gained national attention by confronting companies and individuals over consumer safety and regulatory compliance.
The criticism follows recent online circulation of a video in which Otse promotes modified iPhone XR units redesigned to look like newer models such as the iPhone 17, a practice common in Nigeria’s grey gadget market.
Several users responding to Nwelue’s post questioned how an activist who once demanded transparency from others could now be linked to refurbished devices presented as upgraded versions.
One user with the handle @Mikeyofabj said, “Saw some clowns in the comments saying it is an upgraded iPhone is not fake,” insisting that altering an XR to appear like a newer model does not amount to an upgrade.
Another commenter, @Corgito, argued that Otse’s activism was driven more by online engagement than transparency and wrote that “freedom fighting was never his first calling.”
Some replies suggested that Nigerians defending the modified devices were enabling double standards in public discourse, with @LOLLIS_Makeover linking the behaviour to the same attitude that has seen many continue to support Bola Tinubu despite worsening economic hardship.
More responses mocked Otse’s transition, including a user identified as Lexy who wrote that he “speedran the whole villain arc from ‘Where’s your NAFDAC number?’ to ‘Trust me, it’s an iPhone’ in one update.”
Other commenters defended the device sales and claimed that Otse had openly stated he was selling an iPhone XR with a changed case rather than an authentic newer model.
Nwelue’s criticism also revived questions about Otse’s earlier clashes with entrepreneurs such as Blord, whom he had accused of selling refurbished iPhones without disclosure.
The controversy highlights the fast-shifting dynamics of Nigeria’s online activism culture, where public trust often depends on perceived consistency in advocacy and behaviour.
It also mirrors tensions within Nigeria’s broader consumer market, where refurbished and modified electronic devices are widespread and where affordability frequently shapes purchasing choices.
The issue continues to dominate conversation on X as users debate whether Otse’s actions contradict the stance that made him one of the country’s most visible online commentators.
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