Faiza Abdulkadir, a cleaner in Maiduguri, Borno State, earning a modest ₦30,000 monthly, has been widely celebrated for an extraordinary act of honesty. She returned a substantial sum of ₦4.8 million that was mistakenly credited to her bank account, demonstrating remarkable integrity despite her challenging financial situation.

Working at a health centre, Faiza explained that her decision to return the money was rooted in her deep fear of God and a profound desire for inner peace. “The money was not mine. I wanted peace of mind and to avoid God’s punishment on the Day of Judgement,” she stated to journalists. She further detailed the arduous process of returning the funds, which took her three days to complete with the bank. During this period, she experienced significant distress, describing herself as restless and unable to eat or rest properly until the money was finally sent back to its rightful owner.

Her selfless action garnered immense praise from her community and bank officials. Neighbors described her as a woman of discipline, living modestly while raising her five children, and possessing strong values. A bank staff member emphasized the rarity of such honesty, recounting previous incidents where customers had spent mistakenly transferred funds, causing serious problems for the bank and its employees, and often involving law enforcement without recovery of the money. “Despite her condition, this woman chose to fear God and do the right thing,” a bank official remarked, highlighting the exceptional nature of Faiza's decision. Her integrity has become a powerful and inspiring example throughout Maiduguri.