VDM, a popular Nigerian social media personality, has found himself in hot water after revealing his NGO account prank. The hoax involved VDM claiming that substantial funds intended for an NGO had gone missing. He later revealed that it was all a joke. However, the backlash has been swift, and Nigerians, including prominent figures, have expressed anger over the stunt.
DeeOne, a social media figure, has threatened to petition the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over VDM’s actions. He questioned why VDM would target Nigerians with such a prank. “If it’s a prank, why did you prank Nigerians?” DeeOne asked, his frustration palpable. He also pointed out that the prank destabilized millions of people in several countries.
DeeOne stressed that VDM’s actions could set a dangerous precedence, where anyone could make false claims and later dismiss them as pranks. “That means somebody can just say President Tinubu impregnated somebody, and later say it was a prank,” he added. DeeOne’s comments reflect a growing sense of distrust among those feel their emotions were manipulated for amusement.
NGO account prank was below the belt
Isaac Fayose, a prominent Nigerian businessman, strongly criticized VDM for pranking people with their money. Fayose said that pranking with people’s finances was unethical and reckless. “You can prank with your own money, but not with other people’s funds,” he stated. He further argued that if this happened in a country where NGOs are regulated, VDM would have been sanctioned for lack of confidence. “You don’t prank with people’s money. That is below the belt,” he said.
Fayose likened VDM’s prank to a potential scenario involving President Tinubu. “What if Tinubu wakes up and says he sold the refineries and kept the money?” he asked. “If he later says it was a prank, nobody would believe him.”
He also made reference to Bobrisky’s controversial voice note, which he later denied yet VDM insisted on getting to the root of it, to prove that it was not a lie. “How would you feel of your bank says their system has crashed and they don’t know people’s account balance anymore? If they will later say it was a prank, people will withdraw their money”.
Experts on psychological and social impacts
Psychologists are also weighing in on the psychological impact of VDM’s NGO account prank. Dr. Titi Okoro, a Nigerian clinical psychologist, says such pranks can severely impact people’s emotional well-being. “Pranks like this exploit trust, which can cause anxiety and stress in vulnerable individuals,” she explained. Many Nigerians who followed VDM’s content viewed him as a trustworthy figure. For them, the prank may have shattered their sense of security and caused emotional distress, she explained.
Dr. Okoro added that the prank could leave long-term effects on how people perceive public figures and influencers. “This breach of trust could lead to cynicism, and people may become more hesitant to engage with similar figures in the future.”
Similarly, Adebayo Lawal, a sociologist, noted that the prank could deepen Nigeria’s growing problem of mistrust in public figures. “People might start questioning the authenticity of everything they see online,” he warned. “This has serious consequences for social cohesion.”
Financial analysts discuss impact on Zenith Bank
The prank has also caught the attention of financial analysts, particularly those watching the stock market. They warned that the prank could have long-term effects on the bank’s reputation and market performance.
“Even though it was a joke, the impact on the market could be serious,” said Joy Dibia, a financial analyst. “When misinformation spreads about a company, it can trigger panic selling and cause investors to lose confidence. That’s exactly what happened with Zenith Bank.”
Across social media, Nigerians are voicing their anger. Many expressed disappointment with VDM for misusing his platform. “I hope he understands what he just did,” Chude, a popular Nigerian social media user, posted on X. “I’ll be taking everything coming from him as a joke from now on.”
The law on spread of false information
Legal experts are now discussing the potential legal consequences for VDM. Nigerian law prohibits the spreading of false information that can harm individuals or organizations. “VDM could face charges for creating public panic or for spreading false information,” said Temidayo Olatunji, a legal analyst. “His actions could be deemed as a form of financial sabotage, depending on how things unfold.”
Olatunji, citing the Criminal Code Act, the Penal Code and the Cybercrimes Act, pointed out that VDM’s prank could attract civil suits, especially if the bank suffers due to the confusion surrounding the prank. “If the prank led to significant financial losses for the bank, they may pursue legal action for damages,” he added.
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