Lady Who Returned $12,200 to Owner At MMIA, Given an Apartment By Presidency

Uche Mbah

A staff of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, who some years back returned about $12,200 misplaced by a passenger to the owner, Josephine Ugwu, has been given an apartment in Lagos by the Presidency to reward her honesty and integrity.

She also had a handshake with President Buhari thrown in for good measure.

In a press release by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, the FAAN staff was rewarded  “for her honesty and integrity in the discharge of her duties.”

“The event climaxed with an hand shake to Mrs. Ugwu from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari. She was also given a brand new apartment in Lagos for her act of honesty and integrity,” the release said.

Recall that over six years ago, Josephine, as a cleaner with a firm on contract with FAAN, found a bag containing a large amount of money, later known to be $12,200 and returned the money to the FAAN information central area, where the owner was able to be contacted through his travel documents and the bag handed over to him.

The story generated lots of interest in the media, with many private organizations and individuals  given some token of appreciation to her.

Over N1.5 million were raised for her by public spirited individuals.

Many of the promises given to her by the then government at the center and the state  remained unfulfilled. She was sadly used by many for publicity stunt.

She later was offered a job at the FAAN, where she currently works.

Josephine, who hailed from Nsukka area of Enugu state, had told this magazine then that she did what she did because that was how she was brought up. “I was brought up by my parents with the fear of God. We do not keep what does not belong to us”, she had said.