HUMANITARIAN
Small-Scale Trader, Mrs. Yelwa in Niger State Returns ₦330 Million Mistakenly Credited to Her Account, Earns Nationwide Praise for Rare Act of Integrity
In a rare and inspiring display of honesty and integrity, a Nigerian woman, Aisha Isah Yelwa, has returned the sum of ₦330 million that was mistakenly credited to her bank account, drawing widespread admiration across the country.
Mrs. Yelwa, a small-scale trader based in Lapai, Niger State, disclosed that she discovered the unusual credit in her First Bank account at about 3:49 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025.
According to Eyes Of Lagos, the startling discovery occurred shortly after she had visited the bank to lodge a complaint over repeated deductions linked to loans she had previously obtained to support her small business.
She explained that her visit to the bank earlier that day was purely to seek clarification on the persistent loan deductions, which had continued despite her expectations that they should have ceased.
Later in the day, she decided to check her account balance to confirm whether the issue had been resolved, only to be confronted with a figure far beyond anything she had ever owned.
“I was only checking to see if the loan deductions had stopped when I saw the money. I was confused and scared,” she said.
Mrs. Yelwa further revealed that the mysterious credit came without any accompanying credit alert, transaction description, or explanation indicating the source of the funds, a situation that immediately raised alarm. The absence of details, she noted, made it clear to her that the money did not belong to her and could only have been deposited in error.
Realising the gravity of the situation and determined to act rightly, she promptly reported the anomaly to officials of First Bank. She also cooperated fully with the bank to ensure that the ₦330 million was returned to its rightful owner without delay.
Her decision has since sparked widespread reactions on social media, where many Nigerians have praised her courage, honesty, and strong moral values. Several commentators described her action as exceptional, particularly in a society grappling with rising cases of financial crimes and fraud.
Many also noted that returning such an enormous sum, especially as a small-scale trader who had previously relied on loans to sustain her business, reflects uncommon integrity and personal discipline.
As of the time of filing this report, First Bank has yet to issue an official statement explaining how the erroneous credit occurred or confirming the full recovery of the funds. However, Mrs. Yelwa’s action continues to stand as a powerful reminder that honesty still thrives, even in the most unexpe
cted circumstances.