VeryDarkMan also challenged business mogul Aliko Dangote to prioritise reducing the prices of his cement, fuel, rice, and sugar, over the selling of IPOs.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Human rights activist and social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has threatened to sue telecoms giant MTN Nigeria for sending promotional messages relating to the Dangote Refinery’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) to his private number without authorisation.
The social media influencer issued the threat on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, in a now-trending video he shared on his verified handle.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE formally launched its public offer on Monday, 14 September, putting 4.1 billion ordinary shares on the market at ₦525 per share.
A full subscription would raise approximately ₦2.15 trillion, with the minimum entry point set at 10 shares, costing ₦5,250, while the offer closes on 13 October 2026.
Speaking at the launch ceremony at the Nigerian Exchange in Lagos, business mogul Aliko Dangote positioned the exercise as a vehicle for wealth distribution among ordinary Nigerians.
He said, “We fully share all our prosperity with the people. That’s why we call this ‘People’s IPO’.”
However, after allegedly receiving a text message regarding the IPO on a phone number he says is registered to his National Identification Number (NIN), VeryDarkMan fumed, saying he did not authorise the use of his personal number for any commercial or promotional activity.
He further demanded an explanation from the telecommunications company on how his number ended up in the hands of a third party.
”MTN, my lawyers will write to you. Why was my NIN-linked number used for Dangote IPO ads without my consent? I need an explanation or we’ll meet in court,” he said.
VeryDarkMan also raised broader concerns about how telecommunications companies in the country handle customer data, particularly when that data is used to support commercial campaigns.
His central argument is that receiving a promotional message is not simply a nuisance; it points to a deeper question about who authorised the transfer of his personal information to facilitate such adverts.
While slamming the decision to institute the IPO, which he alleged looks like a “Ponzi scheme”, the social media personality challenged billionaire Aliko Dangote to prioritise reducing the cost of everyday essentials over selling shares to ordinary Nigerians.
”The whole Dangote IPO thing looks like a Ponzi scheme to me. If Dangote really cares about Nigerians, he should reduce the price of cement, fuel, rice, and sugar instead of selling refinery shares for 5,000 naira,” he advised.
