Social media activist, VeryDarkMan has threatened to take MTN Nigeria to court after receiving an unsolicited message promoting the ongoing Dangote IPO, demanding to know how his phone number was obtained and used for the campaign.
VeryDarkMan, who questioned the telecom giant over the message, said his lawyers would write to MTN seeking an explanation over the circumstances surrounding the use of his number to promote the share offering.
The activist’s complaint has sparked a heated debate online, with Nigerians questioning how their phone numbers are obtained and used for promotional campaigns by telecom operators, banks and other businesses.
Reacting to the development, @De_saint said: “VDM is right, I will like to join the suit against Loan company who call me on daily basis, I don’t know how the get my contact! This is very wrong.”
Another user, @EEjekhine26215, wrote: “If I have my way I for don sue MTN tey tey. Na me go subscribe data, Na them go de use my data run advert on my screen with out my consent. Very annoying!”
The controversy comes amid growing concerns about unsolicited marketing messages and the handling of customers’ personal information.
However, some Nigerians urged VeryDarkMan to establish whether the message actually originated from MTN before accusing the company of sharing his number.
@Geehbaba cautioned: “Well, I don’t think the message is directly from MTN Sha. Scammers are evolving everyday and are finding better to perpetuate all manners of evil. Let’s be careful!”
Similarly, @SOlotizzy argued that VeryDarkMan may have misunderstood how the campaign was distributed.
“VDM thinks MTN specifically leaked his number to Aliko Dangote when it’s just a random automated broadcast text being sent to 80 million Nigerians,” he wrote.
The dispute has also reignited arguments over the aggressive promotion surrounding the Dangote IPO, which opened on September 14, 2026.
The offer involves 4.1 billion shares priced at ₦525 each and seeks to raise up to ₦2.15 trillion.
While some Nigerians see the offering as a major investment opportunity, others have questioned the intensity of the campaign and urged potential investors to exercise caution.
@Mrcentfx wrote: “I told someone that if as me andu dahere like this now and banks send us debit alart of 5naira will won’t see it as anytin, find somtin to call it for reason of the debit, now calculate that 5naira in account of over 10million Nigerians, then u realize what they just gain.”
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Another user, @CashTeflo, said: “The way they’re pushing Dangote share shows there’s something to it. Dangote no go help you become rich. They want to take from your little resource.”
However, not everyone agrees with the activist. @austinesteel wrote: “In as much as he is saying the some truth, this verydarkman talks so much. Must you be enemy with everyone?”
The latest controversy has placed the spotlight on both the Dangote IPO marketing campaign and the wider question of how customers’ phone numbers are used for unsolicited promotional messages.
For now, VeryDarkMan’s threatened legal action could force MTN to explain whether it had any role in sending or facilitating the message and, if so, how the campaign was targeted at its customers.
