Maiduguri cleaner returned N4.8m mistakenly deposited in bank account
Faiza Abdulkadir. Photo credit: Web
Tertiary hospital cleaner in Maiduguri, Borno State, Faiza Abdulkadir, has gained national attention for her honesty after returning N4.8 million that was mistakenly credited to her bank account.
The story, first reported by News Central TV on the 24th of August, has since gone viral on X, with many praising her virtuous character in the midst of Nigeria’s challenging economic climate.
In an interview covered by News Central TV, Faiza, who earns just N30,000 monthly and lives with her five children in a single room provided by prominent cleric Sheikh Ibrahim Sali at Gongi, recounted her ordeal.
In her native language, translated to English, she said, “When I confirmed it was genuine, I knew it wasn’t my money. That was why I decided to transfer it back for my peace of mind and quest for paradise.
“It is today that I am happy since the money dropped into my account. In the past three days, I could not eat because of fear. In fact, I was frustrated by the processes of the bank until I finally had my money back.”
Despite her modest earnings, she resisted the temptation to spend the sum, insisting it rightfully belonged to someone else.
Salius Yusuf, a resident, said, “Looking at this kind of social environment we are living in, people are taking ownership of money that is not theirs, and yet we have someone like this. It even got me emotional. Just look at her, her own conditions, but all she is thinking about is how she will be after she dies.”
Bashir Mohammed, an activist, added, “These are the kind of women that are supposed to be supported by the government, and I think she deserves a national honour from the president. Look at her, despite her modest earnings, she returned that money to its original owner, which is very amazing.”
Residents of Maiduguri have commended her honesty, describing her as a role model and calling for her recognition.
Following her act of integrity, over N135,000 has been contributed to support her family, and calls are growing for initiatives to empower her and improve her livelihood.
