The honest Nigerian airport cleaner who returned the money he found has shared why he chose to do so during a recent interview.
The man, Auwal Ahmad Dankode, is a cleaner employed by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO).
While cleaning an Egypt Air airliner at Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Auwal found $10,000 near seat 25. He promptly returned the money, which was then given to its rightful owner.
Auwal revealed that, contrary to what some might think, he was not wealthy when he found the dollars, yet he still chose to return it.
In an interview with The Nation newspaper, he shared that he had only N3,800 in his GTB account when he discovered the N16.1 million.
In his words; “I had only N3,800 in my bank account, which I operate with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB). When the passengers had walked out of the airplane, the security personnel of the airline asked us (cleaners) to go in and clean the aircraft. It is an international aircraft and it was preparing for another trip back to Cairo. While cleaning the aircraft, I saw the envelope, and when I touched it, I felt something different. I said to myself this could not be a letter. When I opened the envelope, I saw a wallet with a bundle of USDs; $10,000.
Auwal, who worked as a contract staff, was rewarded with a conversation about transitioning to a permanent position.
He said; He described his experience after returning the money:
“I boarded Air Max. And upon landing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the COO of NAHCO was there with a Prado Jeep to pick me up. He drove me straight to the head office. There, I was taken round different offices, before going to the Conference Hall, where the chairman of the company, the DMD, Head of Human Resources (HR) and other top officials of the company were seated. At the meeting, they introduced me and said I am a shining example of the kind of employee the company wants. That the honesty and integrity in me are the core values of the company. I was given a Golden Time award and appointed Brand Ambassador of NAHCO. I was converted to a permanent staff, promoted that same time and rewarded with cash.”
Auwal mentioned that the owner of the money offered him a personal reward, but he declined it.
The Management of NAHCO PLC recently held an appreciation reception for a staff of the Company deployed at Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, who found and returned the sum of $10,000 found while cleaning an Egypt Air aircraft. pic.twitter.com/r4fKXCYDwy
— Nigerian Aviation Handling Company | NAHCO PLC (@nahco_aviance) September 1, 2024