Aisha Isah Yelwa, a trader in Niger State, has returned ₦330m mistakenly credited to her bank account.
In a rare show of integrity, Mrs. Aisha Isah Yelwa, a Nigerian petty trader based in Lapai, Niger State, has returned ₦330 million that was mistakenly credited to her bank account.
Mrs. Yelwa said she discovered the unusual balance at about 3:49 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025, while checking her First Bank account.
According to her, the discovery came days after she had complained to the bank about repeated debits linked to loans she took to keep her business running.
While checking to see if the debiting issue had been resolved, she noticed an amount she said she had “never handled in her life.” She explained that there was no credit alert, no transaction narration, and no clear source of the funds.
To confirm it was not a system display error, Mrs. Yelwa said she made a ₦1 million transfer from the account, but still received no alert, leaving her confused and worried.
She said she remained silent until Tuesday morning, when she visited the Lapai branch of First Bank to formally report the issue.
After investigations, the branch manager confirmed that the funds were credited due to a system error and immediately initiated steps to reverse the transaction. Mrs. Yelwa said the bank commended her honesty.
To protect herself, she went to the bank with a lawyer to ensure proper documentation of the process. She said the bank assured her that she bore no liability and would only be contacted if further clarification was required.
Despite her action, Mrs. Yelwa revealed that she faced criticism from some members of the public who questioned why she returned the money instead of keeping it.
“I Did the Right Thing”
Reflecting on the incident, she said returning the money gave her peace of mind.
“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.”
The incident has since sparked conversations across Lapai and beyond, with many describing Aisha Isah Yelwa’s action as a rare example of honesty amid rising financial pressures.
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