A Nigerian based in Qatar, Michael Asemota, on Wednesday explained that he had no temptation to claim the N150 million posted into his account in error.
He explained that the money was not his and he knew he had no right to claim it.
Asemota gave the reason when he was received by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in Abuja.
Asemota, a native of Edo State said he had opened an account in his base, Doha, Qatar, with a cheque of QR150, 200 with an undisclosed commercial bank, where he is the sole signatory of the account when the wrong posting was carried out.
“I got back home, I received an alert showing that a QR1,502,000 had been credited into my account by mistake instead of QR150,200.
“I went to see the manager to report the error of QR1, 502,000 deposited into my account. After checking for confirmation, the manager gave me a warm handshake in appreciation…
“I knew the money did not belong to me and should not be in my account in the first place, so there were no motives and temptations to keep it.”
He said the act had given Nigeria and its peope a good image in Qatar.
Asemota is an official of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation-Qatar (NIDO-Qatar), the umbrella body of Nigerian residents in the country.
Praising him for his honesty, Dabiri-Erewa, according to a statement issued by his media aide, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said that such a rare display of honesty and sincerity from a Nigerian in the Diaspora had given the country as well as other Nigerians living in Qatar a good image.
She urged Asemota to continue to be a good ambassador of Nigeria and implored other Nigerians in the Diaspora to emulate the positive image he had given to Nigeria in Qatar .
“With this exceptional act of honesty, you have given a positive image to Nigerians and Nigeria in Qatar, and indeed, world over.
”We are truly proud of you and urge you to continue to extol the virtues and strength of the Nigerian heritage of honesty, integrity and honour.
“Your shinning beacon serves as inspiration to the youth of Nigeria,’’ Dabiri-Erewa stated in a letter of commendation personally signed by her and given to Asemota.
