A Qatar-dased Nigeria has told how he returned N150 million mistakenly posted to his account in Doha, Qatar.
Michael Asemota, a native of Edo state but based in Doha, Qatar, had opened an account with a cheque of QR150, 200 with an undisclosed commercial bank, where he is the sole signatory of the account.
He narrated his experience to Presidential aide, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, during a courtesy call to her in Abuja: “As I got back home, I received an alert showing that a QR1,502,000 ($441,127.99 about N150 million) wrongfully posted into his account in Qatar.had been credited into my account by mistake instead of QR150,200.
“I went to see the manager to report the error of QR1, 502,000 deposited into my account. After checking for confirmation, the manager gave me a warm handshake in appreciation.”
Asked why he alerted the bank about the error, Asemota said:“I knew the money did not belong to me and shouldn’t be in my account in the first place, so there were no motives and temptations to keep it.”
He said the singular act has given Nigeria and Nigerians positive image in Qatar in the midst of bad stories of Nigeria emanating from the country.
Asemota is an official of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation-Qatar (NIDO-Qatar), the umbrella body of Nigerian residents in the country.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora hailed him for his sincerity and honesty in returning the money.
The SSA said that such a rare display of honesty and sincerity from a Nigerian in the Diaspora has given the country a facelift as well as other Nigerians living in Qatar.
She urged Asemota to continue to be a good ambassador of Nigeria and implore other Nigerians in the Diaspora to emulate the positive image he has given to Nigeria in Qatar .
“ With this exceptional act of honesty, you have given a positive image to Nigerians and Nigeria in Qatar, and indeed, world over.
“We are truly proud of you and urge you to continue to extol the virtues and strength of the Nigerian heritage of honesty, integrity and honour. Your shinning beacon serves as inspiration to the Youth of Nigeria’’, Dabiri-Erewa stated in a letter of commendation personally signed by her and given to Asemota.