Lagos airport cleaner, Josephine Ugwu who found a
passenger’s N12m naira at the airport has said one of
the reasons she returned the money is because she is
a Christian and a child of God. She also said she was
well brought up and would not want to put her family
name in a mess, hence she returned the money.
In a chat with Encomium newspaper, Josephine
explained how the money was found and the reward
she got afterwards. She also debunked the rumour
that an organization gave her N2m, but emphasized
the man who lost the money did not give her a penny
but gave security men N15,000.
The security men now
later gave her N5000 out of the given money.The
interview after the cut.
Can we meet you?
My name is Josephine Ugwu. I am from Obokpa,
Nsukka Local Government, Enugu State. I am single
though engaged to be married. I have a blood brother,
Ignatius Ugwu and a step brother
.
Can you recall how it all happened?
It all started on January 23, 2015. I was on morning
duty. For those on morning duty, we work from 7 a.m
to 7 p.m. I saw a bag while I was picking dirts. It had
been there since 6.30 p.m. After I finished my work
and I was still going home by 7.30 p.m, the bag was
still there. So, I went over to the place and told the
people I saw beside the bag to watch out so that the
owner will not forget the bag. I was told nobody
among them owned it. Suddenly, they started leaving
one after the other. I picked the bag, went straight to
the security point were those scanning could scan the
bag. They checked it and counted the money inside.
American dollars were inside (N12 million worth).
Later, security men came with a man who said he was
looking for a bag. After series of interrogation, they
collected his passport, photocopied it and he signed
and he was given the money.
Did you tell Patoville about it?
Yes, I did. I told them immediately and I was asked to
return the bag to the security, which I had already
done.
Who was the first person you had contact with after
picking the bag?
I called my supervisor, Madam Eunice.
Naturally, as a human being, there will be temptation
to pick the bag and not return it.
What went through
your mind at first?
That wasn’t my first time of picking money. I picked
one on December 23, 2014, another one on December
27, 2014. This was the third time. I never had second
thought when I picked it. I knew it’s money but I
cannot take anything that does not belong to me. It is
another person’s sweat. I don’t want to put Nigeria to
shame. I want people to know I come from a good
family. All values inculcated in me still there. A lot of
people know me as a child of God. I still want that
integrity to stand.
Were you compensated the first and second time?
The first time, the owner didn’t give me anything. The
second time, I was given $50 by the white man that
owned it. This time around, the owner gave the
security men about N15,000. I was given N5,000 out
of it.
We learnt Voice of Change Network gave you N2
million?
That is not true. One organization gave me N20,000, I
also got a freezer.
We learnt they have increased your salary?
Yes, from N8,000 it is now N20,000. I was also
promoted to a supervisor.
passenger’s N12m naira at the airport has said one of
the reasons she returned the money is because she is
a Christian and a child of God. She also said she was
well brought up and would not want to put her family
name in a mess, hence she returned the money.
In a chat with Encomium newspaper, Josephine
explained how the money was found and the reward
she got afterwards. She also debunked the rumour
that an organization gave her N2m, but emphasized
the man who lost the money did not give her a penny
but gave security men N15,000.
The security men now
later gave her N5000 out of the given money.The
interview after the cut.
Can we meet you?
My name is Josephine Ugwu. I am from Obokpa,
Nsukka Local Government, Enugu State. I am single
though engaged to be married. I have a blood brother,
Ignatius Ugwu and a step brother
.
Can you recall how it all happened?
It all started on January 23, 2015. I was on morning
duty. For those on morning duty, we work from 7 a.m
to 7 p.m. I saw a bag while I was picking dirts. It had
been there since 6.30 p.m. After I finished my work
and I was still going home by 7.30 p.m, the bag was
still there. So, I went over to the place and told the
people I saw beside the bag to watch out so that the
owner will not forget the bag. I was told nobody
among them owned it. Suddenly, they started leaving
one after the other. I picked the bag, went straight to
the security point were those scanning could scan the
bag. They checked it and counted the money inside.
American dollars were inside (N12 million worth).
Later, security men came with a man who said he was
looking for a bag. After series of interrogation, they
collected his passport, photocopied it and he signed
and he was given the money.
Did you tell Patoville about it?
Yes, I did. I told them immediately and I was asked to
return the bag to the security, which I had already
done.
Who was the first person you had contact with after
picking the bag?
I called my supervisor, Madam Eunice.
Naturally, as a human being, there will be temptation
to pick the bag and not return it.
What went through
your mind at first?
That wasn’t my first time of picking money. I picked
one on December 23, 2014, another one on December
27, 2014. This was the third time. I never had second
thought when I picked it. I knew it’s money but I
cannot take anything that does not belong to me. It is
another person’s sweat. I don’t want to put Nigeria to
shame. I want people to know I come from a good
family. All values inculcated in me still there. A lot of
people know me as a child of God. I still want that
integrity to stand.
Were you compensated the first and second time?
The first time, the owner didn’t give me anything. The
second time, I was given $50 by the white man that
owned it. This time around, the owner gave the
security men about N15,000. I was given N5,000 out
of it.
We learnt Voice of Change Network gave you N2
million?
That is not true. One organization gave me N20,000, I
also got a freezer.
We learnt they have increased your salary?
Yes, from N8,000 it is now N20,000. I was also
promoted to a supervisor.
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