The dispute took a new turn after Blord announced that he had trademarked the name “Ratel,” a term widely associated with VDM’s followers and online persona. In a post shared on his Instagram story on January 19, 2026, Blord claimed the name had been officially registered as a business brand and revealed that his lawyer had been instructed to issue a cease-and-desist letter to VDM, warning him against continued use of the name without permission.
Blord’s announcement immediately sparked widespread reactions online, given the history between both men. Their rivalry dates back to October 2025, when VDM publicly accused the businessman of fraudulent practices and inflated pricing of products such as phones and cars. The accusations, which allegedly stemmed from a China trip meant to help Nigerian entrepreneurs source cheaper goods, escalated into public exchanges, petitions to authorities and heated social media confrontations. At the height of the dispute, Blord’s Instagram account also briefly went offline.
“Ratel” has long been used by VDM to identify his supporters and has become closely tied to his brand of online activism. As a result, Blord’s decision to launch a fintech application bearing the same name—designed for services such as gift card trading, bill payments and cryptocurrency transactions—was widely interpreted as a provocative move that blurred the line between business strategy and personal rivalry.
The development reignited conversations around intellectual property rights, brand ownership and digital identity in Nigeria’s fast-growing tech and social media ecosystem.
VDM, however, rejected Blord’s claim, insisting that he had trademarked “Ratel” as far back as September 2024. In a viral video response, the activist challenged Blord to present evidence of his trademark approval and accused critics of failing to verify facts before drawing conclusions. He also addressed claims that his dispute with Blord was an attack on the Igbo ethnic group, describing such interpretations as misguided.
Beyond the legal argument, VDM maintained that the name represents more than formal documentation. He argued that the identity attached to “Ratel” is rooted in character and influence, rather than paperwork alone.
In a surprising twist, Blord later renamed his app from “Ratel” to “Ratels,” even as social media users continued to demand public proof of the trademark he claimed to have secured. The situation took another dramatic turn when the businessman alleged that the entire episode had been deliberately orchestrated by both parties, describing it as a scripted move aimed at amplifying their respective brands.
Despite the claims and counterclaims, the feud has continued to dominate online conversations, highlighting the growing intersection of personal branding, legal ownership and influence in Nigeria’s digital age.