People insulted, mocked me for returning N2.8m misplaced by customer

One Mohammed Ogbanago, who works as a security guard with the United Bank for Africa, UBA, has recounted how he was mocked and ridiculed after he returned about N2.8m misplaced by a customer.

The 29-year-old who reportedly earns N30, 000 per month, had on April 7, 2016, found the whopping sum of N2.8m close to the main gate of the Oba Akran branch of the UBA in Lagos State where he worked.

The money was said to have fallen from the bulk withdrawn by a bank customer and the security guard on seeing this, reportedly took the money to the bank’s operation manager who then handed it over to the customer when he revisited the bank.

According to the Punch, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Tony Elumelu, at the bank’s corporate headquarters on the Lagos Island, hosted Ogbanago and applauded him for the action.

Ogbanago who hails from Kogi State said he graduated from the state College of Education in 2012.

He explained that he returned the money to show that all Nigerians were not corrupt and to set a good example for Nigerian youths, adding that the story of an airport cleaner (Josephine Agwu), who returned the N12m she found at her work place, also inspired him.

He said, “And my chance came on that day. I was coming from inside the bank when I saw the money on the ground and I decided that the best thing was for me to take it to the operation manager. The owner of the money later came to ask for it.

“After I did that, some people started ridiculing me that I shouldn’t have returned the money and that I should have considered my meagre salary before letting go of such a huge sum of money. But I felt I did the right thing.

“If I had, for instance, taken the money away and fled to my village, it would not be a case of misplaced money again, but stealing and I could even be declared wanted.

“Although my salary may not be enough for my upkeep, especially with the current economic situation in the country, it is no excuse to take what is not mine. I have been campaigning that to make Nigeria great, we all must prove to be good Nigerians in our small corners. Not all Nigerians are corrupt.

“I am happy I had the chance to prove myself and I want other Nigerian youths to learn from it. I want our youths to know that a good name is better than riches,” he added.