A police constable attached to the Borno State Police Command, Mohammed Alhaji Muhammad, has refunded ₦2.6 million that was accidentally paid into his bank account.
Speaking after returning the funds, Muhammad explained that his action was driven by a commitment to challenge negative public perceptions of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The development was confirmed on Monday by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, who spoke with journalists.
The constable’s action first came to public attention after a Facebook user, Bello Jafar, praised him for what he described as an uncommon display of honesty and integrity.
“I would like to formally express my appreciation for Mohammad Alhaji Muhammad, a loyal customer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) and a police officer of exceptional integrity,” Jafar wrote.
The Facebook user said the police officer received the money in error from a Moniepoint customer but took immediate steps to ensure it was returned to the rightful owner.
According to the police spokesman, the state police commissioner, Naziru Abdulmajeed, invited the constable for a meeting after the matter came to light.
He explained that Muhammad, who works in the insurance office of the Borno State Police Command, received the credit alert last Thursday and immediately realised he was not expecting any such payment.
“When he received the alert on his phone last Thursday, he said he knew he was not expecting any particular money.
“The next day, Friday, first thing in the morning, he took permission and went to his bank to complain that a certain amount of money was sent to him which he was not expecting. He requested that the bank do justice regarding the money,” Daso said.
