Social media influencer and businessman Blord has discovered himself on the centre of controversy after unveiling what he referred to as an iPhone 17 Pro, a tool now revealed to be a refurbished iPhone XR. The story has taken over Nigerian Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, with hundreds of individuals questioning how an older mannequin may out of the blue turn out to be a “new launch” and promote for round ₦400,000.
The uproar has ignited a wider dialog about fake iPhones in Nigeria, influencer advertising ethics, and the way far individuals will go to seem stylish within the digital age.
What Precisely Did Blord Do?
Blord, whose actual title is Linus Williams Ifejika, posted a video showcasing what seemed to be a brand-new iPhone 17 Professional. The system appeared nearly similar to Apple’s official design, shiny end, triple digital camera setup, and all of the visible cues of a high-end mannequin. In his phrases: “…model new iPhone XR that was modified to 17 Professional”
What’s your opinion about BLord promoting
promoting faux iPhone 17 💔 pic.twitter.com/bZQom27JOg— High Naija Life (@TopNaijaLife) October 13, 2025
Nevertheless, it was later ’found’ that these telephones had been really iPhone XR items refurbished and refitted to seem like newer fashions. The interior elements; processor, battery, and digital camera software program, remained these of the XR. Solely the exterior casing, show, and design parts had been altered to resemble Apple’s newest flagship.
On-line sources revealed that Blord’s staff allegedly modifies outdated telephones in China after which sells them in Nigeria beneath the “iPhone 17 Professional” label.
The Value Tag and Why It Raised Eyebrows
Blord reportedly priced these telephones between ₦400,000 and ₦450,000, calling them “upgraded iPhones.” For context, a real iPhone 17 Professional prices above ₦1.8 million within the Nigerian market, whereas an authentic iPhone XR at present sells for round ₦250,000 or much less, relying on the situation. That value hole triggered suspicion.
Many Nigerians accused the influencer of profiting from individuals’s need for high-status devices. Others argued that his advertising made it sound like these had been precise Apple merchandise, not beauty modifications. The phrase “Blord iPhone 17 Professional” rapidly began trending on-line, with numerous memes and debates filling social media timelines.
Social Media Explodes: Nigerians React
The backlash started when activist VeryDarkMan (VDM) referred to as out Blord in a viral video, accusing him of “promoting faux iPhones to unsuspecting patrons.” VDM claimed the so-called “iPhone 17 Professional” may very well be sourced from China for about ₦280,000, making Blord’s ₦400k price ticket an exaggerated revenue on a deceptive product.
VeryDarkMan don forged Blord for promoting counterfeit iPhone 17 for 450k as a substitute of 280k together with transport charges 😂🫵🏽 pic.twitter.com/UPiy746mTU
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) October 13, 2025
On X (previously Twitter), Nigerians shared their ideas: “Vdm don forged Blord😂 The modified iPhone 17 is 280k and Blord is promoting it for 450k”
Blord Responds to the Allegations With Sarcasm
As an alternative of clearing the air correctly, Blord replied in a method that many individuals noticed as pure sarcasm. He posted an image of himself in a lawyer’s gown, saying, “Nigerians pray for me o! My legal professionals are prepared… solely Sabinus can save me now.”
The tone was clearly not critical, it sounded extra like he was making enjoyable of the entire state of affairs than apologising. His put up rapidly went viral, and whereas some followers discovered it humorous, others felt he was mocking individuals who had been genuinely upset in regards to the iPhone XR problem.
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VDM Enters the Chat, and Will get Uncovered
Simply when it appeared the drama was cooling down, VDM (VeryDarkMan) determined so as to add extra gas. He claimed he additionally travelled to the identical China Blord visited and even modified the identical kind of iPhone XR to show that Blord was mendacity.
To make his level, he shared a Chinese language contact supposedly chargeable for the iPhone modifications. However the story took a wild flip when Blord clapped again, revealing that the telephone quantity VDM posted really belongs to his personal sister, Vivian Otse Vincent.
Screenshots began flying round as Blord accused VDM of utilizing his sister’s quantity to deceive Nigerians, and plenty of Nigerians have additionally come confirmed the declare. That revelation turned social media the wrong way up.
Nigerians flooded the feedback, calling VDM out for being dishonest and dragging him for attempting to twist the story. Some stated, “So na household enterprise una dey do?” whereas others joked that the drama was “extra attention-grabbing than a Netflix sequence.”
At that time, the problem had shifted utterly, from a phone-selling scandal to a full-blown influencer versus influencer showdown. It turned much less in regards to the iPhone XR and extra about who was really telling the reality.
Why This Story Issues for Nigerian Cellphone Consumers
This episode is greater than movie star drama; it’s a wake-up name for Nigerian telephone customers.
Watch Out for Faux iPhones
The market is flooded with refurbished and faux iPhones, and plenty of patrons fall sufferer as a result of they depend on look reasonably than verification. To keep away from being misled, patrons ought to take a couple of precautions:
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At all times verify your iPhone’s IMEI quantity on Apple’s official web site to substantiate its authenticity.
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Be cautious of “upgraded” fashions that declare to seem like new releases at suspiciously low costs.
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Purchase from verified retailers or trusted tech shops, not from social media pages with out clear enterprise registration.
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Examine specs — if the telephone claims to be a brand new mannequin however runs on older software program, that’s a purple flag.
These little checks can save patrons from shedding cash on faux iPhones or rebranded units.
RELATED: Do You Really Need The iPhone 17?
