A PalmPay agent known as “Biggie” has reportedly died after being assaulted during a disagreement over an EasyBuy-financed phone in Abraka, Delta State. His family and associates say the confrontation took place on September 10, 2026, at about 8:30 p.m. He died on September 13, after three days in a coma.
The reports spell his name differently. One says Justin Azubike Owefu, and another says Justin Azubuike Ewofobe. He was reportedly a graduate of Delta State University, Abraka, and a PalmPay agent covering Obiaruku, Abraka and Warri. He was married and had a 10-year-old daughter.
The account of what happened (the alleged events)
According to the account, a customer collected a ₦185,000 phone on the EasyBuy instalment plan. He paid ₦30,000 upfront and agreed to pay ₦11,000 weekly. He allegedly defaulted for several weeks, and the phone was locked automatically. He later made some payments and demanded an immediate unlock. His guarantor, who is reportedly his nephew and a POS operator in Abraka, also became involved.
The family says Biggie was returning home with his wife and daughter when the two men confronted him. He reportedly explained that unlocking could take up to three days. The disagreement escalated, and the men allegedly took his phone and other belongings. When he tried to recover them, he was allegedly pushed to the ground, and his head hit the tarred road. He suffered serious head injuries and later developed internal complications.
What the police have been told (the state of the case)
The family says the matter was reported at the Abraka Police Station on September 11. Relatives and associates have raised concerns over how the case has been handled and are calling for a thorough, impartial investigation. We found no clear police statement on arrests, an autopsy or the progress of the investigation. The cause of death has not been confirmed by a medical report in anything we found, and the accused are presumed innocent.
A growing complaint about phone-lock lending (related disputes and how they have been handled)
We did not find an earlier reported case of a death linked to an EasyBuy dispute, so this appears unusual. But complaints about phone-financing disputes are not new. EasyBuy sells phones on credit and uses remote device management software to lock a phone when a customer misses repayment. In 2026, Blueprint reported Nigerians urging regulators to look into the company’s practices. The report also quotes a commentator who said EasyBuy is run by Newedge Finance Limited, which is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and approved by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
In 2022, a customer in Oyo State complained that PalmPay locked his phone over a ₦9,000 loan, which made it hard for him to repay it. We did not find reports that these complaints led to violence, or any ruling against the companies.
Delta police have shown they can move quickly when a case draws wide attention. After a video of the April 2026 killing of Mene Ogidi in Effurun went viral, the Commissioner of Police ordered the arrest of the officer involved, and the Inspector-General ordered the transfer of the officers involved. That is a different kind of case, but it shows what a fast response looks like.
When a debt dispute turns physical (why such quarrels can escalate)
Phone-lock lending puts agents in a hard position. Customers see the agent as the face of a company, even though the agent does not control the lock, and unlocking may need approval from the lender’s system. A customer who has paid something may expect an instant fix, and may blame the agent when it takes days.
Agents also often work alone, move around at night, and handle cash and devices. That makes them easy to confront. Anger over money, shame over default and a sense of being cheated can lead to violence when there is no quick way to settle disputes.
A family without its breadwinner (effects on the family, agents and the country)
The first loss is a husband and father, and a daughter, 10, who must now grow up without him. For the wider community, the death will make other agents fear confrontation over unpaid or locked devices.
Nationally, agents like Biggie are a key link in Nigeria’s push for digital finance. Many people in towns like Abraka rely on them for cash, transfers and credit. If agents are afraid of customers, services may become more costly or harder to find. The case also tests whether violence arising from small debts is punished.
Safer ways to settle disputes (possible solutions)
First, the police should complete the investigation, publish what they find and, if the evidence supports it, prosecute. A medical report on the cause of death will be central. The family’s call for impartiality should be respected.
Lenders and fintech firms can make unlock timelines clear in writing, tell customers how long it takes after payment, and give agents a way to escalate complaints quickly. They can also support agents who face threats. Customers should keep proof of payment and use the company’s official support channels. Complaints can also go to the FCCPC, which regulates consumer lending. Agents should avoid confrontations at night, and call the police when threatened.
A phone lock is a business problem, not a licence to harm
We believe no phone, no debt and no delay can justify violence. If the allegations are true, a man was attacked in front of his wife and child over a process he did not control. That is a serious matter for the law.
We also stress that the facts are still unclear. The suspects have not been tried, and key details, such as the cause of death, still need confirmation. The police owe the family and the public a clear update. Fintech companies, too, should ask whether their systems and their agents’ safety are adequately protected. Justice for Biggie’s family should come through the courts, and not through further violence.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
