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.
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