1. Mohammed Abdulrahman

On December 21, 2023, a merchant at the Dawanau grain market in Kano transferred N10 million to 37-year-old Mohammed Abdulrahman instead of N10,000. After realising the businessman’s error, Abdulrahman, rather than keep the money to himself and consider it his good fortune, reported the error at the nearest police station.

The Kano Police spokesman at the time, Abdullahi Kiyawa, said Abdulrahman reported himself at the Bompai Police Headquarters Kano, where he stated that someone among his customers had overpaid into his POS business, the sum of nine million, nine hundred and ninety thousand naira (N9,990,000:00) while he wanted to make an online transfer of ten thousand naira (N10,000:00) only and mistakenly transferred the sum of ten million naira (N10,000,000:00),”

It took three months of investigation to identify the businessman who made the transfer and the money was refunded. The state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Gumel commended Abdulrahman for his honesty and good conduct. The businessman, who admitted the mistake, thanked the POS operator and the police for locating him and returning his money to him

2. Auwalu Salisu

When Auwalu Salisu, a 22-year-old tricycle (keke) rider, in 2023 discovered the sum of N15 million that a Chadian businessman passenger left behind inside his tricycle while hurrying to the market, he demonstrated an uncommon kind of Integrity and honesty.

He found the bag full of cash while cleaning his tricycle after transporting three people from Badawa to Yan Kaba Motor Park in Kano. Salisu, an indigene of Nasarawa Local Government Area, Kano State, who resides in Yankaba, quickly returned the cash after learning about its loss over the radio.

According to him, he never considered squandering the money because his upbringing would not permit it. Ironically, it was around this moment that he revealed that nearly all of his friends had made fun of him for returning the money. Despite his financial difficulties, the tricyclist showed a high degree of integrity and honesty by returning the money to the owner.

In appreciation, the owner of the money gave him N400,000, while he also received gifts and accolades from numerous organisations for his outstanding integrity and honest act.

3. Hajiya Aishatu ‘yan Guru Nahuce

For Hajiya Aishatu ‘yan Guru Nahuce, it was a personal decision to return the $80,000 (N64,240,000) she found during her pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia two years ago.

Hajiya Aishatu, who is from Bungudu Local Government Area in Zamfara State, informed and gave the money to one of her state’s Pilgrims Welfare Agency officers before it was returned to the owner. She explained that she decided to return the cash because she wanted to avoid the wrath of Allah. Besides, she could not bring herself to keeping something that was not hers, as it would amount to stealing.

For this feat, Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, honored the pilgrim in the company of all Emirs of the State, at the Council Chambers, Government House, Gusau upon her return from Hajj. The Governor expressed the immense joy of the State Government at the pilgrim’s honesty.

4. Mary Ngozi Kekwaaru

In 2023, at a time when the value of the dollar is surging in Nigeria and converting any significant sum to the dollar would have equally yielded significant return, 32-year-old Customer Care staff, Mary Ngozi Kekwaaru refused to fall into temptation. Rather than keep the $70,000 that a guest at the Eko Hotel and Suites, where she worked as a staff member, left in a bag after checking out of his hotel room, Mary opted to hand it over for return to the owner.

She quickly alerted the hotel management after discovering the bag. General Manager of Eko Hotel and Suites, Danny Kioupouroglou confirmed that the process of returning the money to its rightful owner was done with the establishment’s integrity and transparency policy.

The lucky guest, in turn, expressed his profound gratitude to the hotel staff and management, praising their swift action and integrity. Mary explained that she did not steal $70,000 because she remembered the Christian virtue of not stealing what did not belong to her.

5. Dayyabu Bala Gezawa

While preparing for pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in 2023, Dayyabu Bala Gezawa, found N16 million while on duty as a casual worker with the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board and handed it over to the director general of the board.

The money was part of the pilgrims’ basic travel allowance for one local government area of the state. Due to his incredible behavior, Gezawa earned a permanent job, a seat for Hajj last year, and one million naira from the Kano State Government.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, during a presentation of the 2023 Hajj report by the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, said his administration decided to honour Gezawa as an expression of gratitude for the integrity he exhibited. “This casual worker has proven his integrity by returning missing money, despite his status and the economic hardship in the country,” he said.