Phone company's Lagos office reportedly shutdown

fuad lawal

July 9, 2015 10:57 PM

According to eyewitness reports, Innjoo Mobile's Lagos office has been shutdown by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria for selling 'non type approved handsets'.

Trinity Mall is situated at Ikeja, Lagos

A Nairalander has alleged that the Lagos office of Innjoo, located at Trinity Mall, Ikeja, has been shut down by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, for allegedly employing sub-standard materials in producing their mobile phones, especially their flagship phone, Injoo Fire.

The Nairalander, who goes by the username originalblood, narrated:

"And so, I went to Innjoo office and service centre on Awolowo way Ikeja on Saturday to fix my broken Injoo One screen and it was under lock and key.

I assumed it was locked because it was a Saturday and went back on Monday morning only to get there and find other Innjoo users hanging around the building. We were told that the office was under renovation but we did not see any materials being moved in nor did we see any signs of renovation going on anywhere in that building.Eventually we got to know that the building had been shut by the standards organisation of Nigeria (SON) due to the use of sub standard materials and hardware being used to produce Innjoo phones especially Innjoo Fire.

Far-fetched as his story might sound, originalblood has an actual Newspaper clipping to back his claim."To back up his claim, there's a Vanguard newspaper clipping that says there are intentions to raid Innjoo.

Although the headline says it NCC and not SON, it doesn't look like its far from the reality.

When asked, the security guard at the office said in pidgin, “Them never open since last week thursday. Them get problem with NCC , So them need to sort themself out before them fit open”, according to Android Nigeria.

There has been no statement by Innjoo on the new development.

Implications

If this rumoured development is anything to go by, there may be adverse implications on the Dubai-based OEM company.

Innjoo seems to be doing very well on two of Nigeria's biggest online Malls, Konga and Jumia. If Innjoo is really guilty of the accusations, this might compel them to take the brand off their malls. The effect this would have on Innjoo's finances can not be overemphasised. These malls not only act as sellers of the company's products, they are also their biggest advertising platforms, as these two malls are also two of the most visited Online malls in Nigeria.

It might not be long before SLOT, the largest mobile phone retailer in Nigeria, will decide to follow suit.

Sales will suffer especially since the charge is on selling “Non Type Approved Handsets”.

It is expected that Innjoo technology will release a statement soon as regards the development.

fuad lawal