Constable returns ₦2.6m mistakenly transferred to him

A police constable in Borno State, Mohammed Alhaji Muhammad, has returned ₦2.6 million that was mistakenly credited to his bank account, citing his desire to counter negative perceptions about the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Borno State Police Command confirmed the development through its spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, on Monday.

The story first gained attention after a Facebook user, Bello Jafar, praised Muhammad for his “uncommon display of honesty and integrity.” Jafar explained that the officer, a United Bank for Africa (UBA) customer, received the funds in error from a Moniepoint transaction and immediately took steps to return the money to its rightful owner.

Daso said the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajeed, invited Muhammad for a meeting after the incident surfaced. Muhammad, who works in the insurance office of the Borno State Police Command, reportedly received the alert last Thursday and realised he was not expecting the payment.

“The next morning, he sought permission to visit his bank and formally report the unexpected credit, requesting that the bank take necessary action,” Daso explained.

The bank traced the transaction to a UBA branch in Sokoto State, contacted the branch manager, and Muhammad signed a consent form authorising the reversal of the funds to the rightful owner.

During his meeting with the commissioner, Muhammad stated that his decision was motivated by the desire to uphold discipline and professionalism, noting the negative perceptions people sometimes have about the police.

The act has since received widespread praise on social media, with many Nigerians highlighting it as a shining example of integrity within the Nigeria Police Force.