In a heartening display of integrity, a Nigerian woman has successfully recovered a significant sum of money she accidentally sent to a complete stranger. The incident, which highlights both the anxiety of digital banking errors and the enduring goodness in people, has captured widespread attention online.
A Costly Mistake Leads to Despair
The story began when Akinwade Maj Royal intended to make a transfer from her GTBank account. In a moment of haste, she copied and pasted what she believed were the correct account details. It was only after authorizing the transaction with her fingerprint that she realized the funds, totaling N26,000, were headed to an unintended Opay account.
The realization triggered immediate distress. "Immediately, my body changed," Akinwade shared on Facebook. "I didn't know when tears were falling off my eyes. My mind was just wandering everywhere… At a point I removed my mind from the money so as not to lose my peace." Her anguish was compounded by other financial pressures, which she alluded to in her post.
The Frustrating Search for a Solution
Acting quickly, Akinwade reached out to her bank for help. However, they could only escalate the issue and offer sympathy, with no direct power to reverse the transfer sent to another financial institution. She then tried calling the phone number linked to the Opay account. The call dropped while she was still explaining the situation, and subsequent attempts revealed the number was switched off.
Feeling helpless, she sent a message via WhatsApp, pleading for the stranger's understanding. Initially, there was no response. During this anxious wait, her husband stepped in to support her emotionally and financially by sending her N30,000 as a replacement, which brought her some comfort.
An Unexpected and Honest Response
The tide turned later in the day when Akinwade noticed her WhatsApp message had been read. The recipient, identified as Bãbã ÆLī Mãllõwãñ, replied simply with "hi." After Akinwade explained the painful mistake, his response was nothing short of gracious.
"Without any hitch Bãbã ÆLī Mãllõwãñ refunded my money," she wrote with immense relief. She expressed profound gratitude, emphasizing that such acts of kindness are not always common. "Yes there are still good Nigerians. I have prayed for him and my heart Will continue to pray for him," she stated, urging her followers to also thank the kind-hearted man.
Public Reaction and Broader Context
The screenshots of the WhatsApp exchange, shared on Facebook, drew widespread commendation for the receiver's honesty, especially in the current economic climate. Commenters like Blessing Adisa Aca noted, "God bless you. Only a few people could do this in this economy." Others joined in praising the man's good heart.
This incident resonates with many Nigerians who have faced similar dilemmas with mistaken transfers. It serves as a positive counter-narrative to stories where recipients refuse to return funds. In related reports, individuals have mistakenly sent wrong amounts as tithes or fallen victim to loan app disbursement errors, often with less favorable outcomes.
Akinwade's experience, culminating in a full refund, stands as a testament to integrity and compassion. It reminds the public that while technology can facilitate errors, human decency can ultimately provide the solution.
