In an exceptional act of honesty, a Nigerian woman, Aisha Isah Yelwa, has returned N330 million that was mistakenly paid into her bank account.
Mrs. Yelwa, a small-scale trader in Lapai, Niger State, said she noticed the unexpected balance in her First Bank account around 3:49pm on Monday, December 29, 2025.
She explained that the discovery came shortly after she had raised concerns with the bank over persistent debits connected to loans she had earlier taken to keep her business running.
According to her, while checking her account to see if the debit issue had been resolved, she was stunned to find an amount she had never handled before.
She added that the funds appeared without any credit alert, transaction description, or clear source.
“In order to be sure it wasn’t a display error, I made a transaction of N1 million from the account, and there was still no credit alert. That was when I became more confused and worried,” she told Lapai TV.
Mrs. Yelwa said she kept quiet until Tuesday morning, when she went to the Lapai branch of First Bank to officially report the issue.
She disclosed that the branch manager praised her integrity after confirming that the money resulted from a system malfunction and promptly initiated a reversal of the funds.
Despite her honesty, Mrs. Yelwa revealed that some people criticised her decision to return the money instead of commending her conduct.
To safeguard herself legally, she said she visited the bank alongside a lawyer to ensure the process was properly documented.
She added that the bank reassured her that she had no liability and would only be contacted if additional clarification became necessary.
Reflecting on the incident, Mrs. Yelwa said she felt fulfilled for choosing to do the right thing, describing her action as an issue of integrity and concern for her children’s future.
“I feel good returning the money. I am a mother, and my children’s future means more to me than anything,” she told Lapai TV. “Even with all my financial challenges, I don’t want to eat what does not belong to me,” she added.
The incident has since generated widespread discussion in Lapai and beyond, with many hailing Mrs. Yelwa’s action as a rare display of honesty at a time when financial pressure pushes many to act otherwise.