A cleaner at a tertiary hospital in Maiduguri, Borno State, Faiza Abdulkadir, has captured national attention for her remarkable honesty after returning N4.8 million that was mistakenly credited to her bank account.
The story, initially reported by News Central TV on 24th August, has since gone viral on X, with many praising her virtuous character in the face of Nigeria’s challenging economic climate.
In an interview with News Central TV, Faiza, who earns a modest 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 stated, “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 local resident, remarked, “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 are challenging, 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 should be supported by the government, and I believe 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 truly amazing.”
Residents of Maiduguri have commended her honesty, describing her as a role model and calling for her recognition. Many have suggested that she deserves government support and even a national honour. 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.
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