A young Nigerian man has sparked an online conversation about honesty and conscience after he publicly shared his feelings of guilt following a mistaken money transfer. Despite acting on the sender's instructions to keep a portion of the funds, his mind remains unsettled.
The Unexpected Alert and the Sender's Request
The incident began when Mahmud Ibrahim Skt received a phone call around 3:00 pm from a stranger. The caller informed Ibrahim that he had mistakenly sent the sum of N6,000 to his OPay account. Ibrahim was unaware of the credit until he checked his mobile app and confirmed the alert.
He immediately called the sender back, ready to refund the full amount. However, in a surprising turn, the sender instructed Ibrahim to keep N2,000 for himself and return only N4,000. Complying with the request, Ibrahim transferred the N4,000 back without delay.
A Lingering Sense of Guilt
After completing the transaction, and even after receiving a thank-you call from the grateful sender, Ibrahim was plagued by a sense of guilt. He took to Facebook to share a screenshot of the credit alert and confess his internal conflict.
"I'm just feeling guilty for not sending his money completely though he called and thanked me for returning his money to him," he wrote. He explained that he saw no justifiable reason to take the N2,000, but did so simply because the sender offered it.
Mixed Reactions from Netizens
The post drew a flood of comments from Nigerians offering diverse perspectives on the situation.
Some, like Ikram S Yakasai, urged him to simply send the remaining N2k if his conscience was troubled. Jazuli Jibril Aminu suggested he should have returned the full sum, expecting a greater reward from God for his integrity.
Yar Baba provided a different angle, implying the sender may have asked him to keep the N2k out of fear he wouldn't return anything at all.
A cautionary note came from Rukayyah Abdulrahman, who warned that keeping any part of a mistaken transfer, especially larger sums, could potentially implicate him as an accomplice in the eyes of the law. She advised against repeating such an action for his own safety.
Abdullahi Muhammad Jidda offered balanced advice, presenting two clear options: return all the money to ease his conscience, or accept the N2k gift and make peace with the fact he didn't ask for it. His central message was clear: "Don't make any decision that makes you feel bad."
Honesty in the Digital Age
This incident highlights the moral dilemmas that can arise from instant digital transactions. While Ibrahim's action to return the bulk of the money is commendable, his lingering guilt underscores a personal commitment to absolute honesty.
It also serves as a reminder of the importance of double-checking account details before sending money. The story resonates in a society where such mistaken transfers are not uncommon, and the response of the recipient is often a test of character.
