An unexpected bank alert left a Nigerian pastor with a major decision. Instead of keeping the money, Dr Gideon Isah chose to return the entire N120 million to its sender.
MAKURDI, BENUE STATE — Dr Gideon Isah, a Nigerian pastor, has shared how he returned N120 million that was mistakenly transferred into his bank account after receiving the funds on Sunday while he was away in Makurdi. According to his account, he immediately suspected the transfer was an error because he was not expecting such a large payment.
The pastor said he informed his lawyer about the unexpected credit on Sunday. According to him, his lawyer advised that the safest option was to refund the money to the same bank account from which it originated instead of sending it to a different account provided later by the caller.
Speaking about the incident, Isah said a woman from Kano contacted him on Monday morning after obtaining his phone number through her bank. He explained that although she later sent him a Moniepoint account number for the refund, he declined to use it and instead transferred the money back to the original account that initiated the payment.
According to Isah, the woman confirmed receipt of the funds and expressed gratitude through prayers. He added that she offered him a token of appreciation for his honesty, but he politely declined the offer. He also advised Nigerians to exercise caution whenever unexpected funds enter their bank accounts.
The development means customers who receive mistaken bank transfers should avoid spending the money or sending it to third-party accounts without proper verification. Financial experts often advise account holders to notify their bank immediately and, where a refund is necessary, return the money to the original sending account after confirming the transaction details. This approach helps reduce the risk of fraud and protects both the sender and the recipient.
