Julius OkoriePlease be sincere to yourself, I mean from the bottom of your heart. Would you return N4million forgotten by a passenger in your Bolt, Ubber, Taxi, shuttle boat or Keke Maruwa?
Well, while you are pondering over it, a Keke operator Lucky Okoro in Aba, Abia state pulled a crowd at the Ariaria Market, after he returned N4million forgotten in his Keke by a Cameroonian market woman.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe said woman had boarded his tricycle from Aba Main Park to Ariaria Market, and left a bag containing the cash. Okoro tracked her down at Ariaria Market, where she was in tears and contemplating suicide over her misfortune. He returned the money, advising her to stay in a hotel for safety.
Okoro at the time of the discovering the money neatly packed in bundles must have been left with two options. Close for the day, return home and celebrate his fortune or begin desperate search for the owner of the money with intent to return it. He chose the later and began the search for the woman who he later found crying over her huge loss that perhaps would have ruined her business and her trip to Nigeria.
According to Okoro whose action has since been trending like wild fire in the harmattan, the thought of pocketing the money never came to his mind even for a second why “I cannot use someone’s hard earned money to fulfill my personal needs”he said.
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Lucky Okoro popularly called Onye Photo despite his desire for a new tricyle, said he can never use someone’s hard-earned money to fulfill his personal need as a Jehovah’s Witness, stressing that, that is not how he was trained as a witness.
He also revealed how he was mocked by his fellow kekemen by calling him “mumu and mugu “respectively for his decision to return the money to the Cameroonian woman who was in Aba for shopping.
His message for the mockers is that he was not brought up that way and secondly Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for their sincerity and contentment.
Some of the mockers Primebusiness.africa understands, reminded him that his name is Lucky noting adding that he made a mistake adding changing his name to Unlucky’ by returning the money picked on a platter of gold, with no name or identity return on it.
Okoro was however not deterred by the mockers and their ‘lucky day’ sermons, he rather expressed pride at his decision adding “I love what I did. It is true that Keke dey disturbs me, but I am happy. I need a new Keke, but not another woman’s money.” His actions earned widespread praise on social media, with posts across social media platforms calling for him to receive a national award and describing Nigerians as “amazing people” for such integrity.
It will not be the first time a keke driver will be returning huge sum of money to the rightful owner in Aba in a similar circumstance. Only last month, a keke driver Emmanuel Obodoezie, returned N2.4 million and was rewarded N1.4 million by Governor Alex Otti. Okoro’s honesty highlights a powerful act of kindness amid economic hardship; the mockery also brings to the fore increasing level of desperation in the society and disregard for moral values.
Like the saying that no good did goes unrewarded, latest information on the matter indicate that Lucky has been rewarded with N2.1million by Okezie Ikpeazue Faith foundation for his act of honesty.
In a post on X by Samuel Meshchai @SamOcheson stated “Sincerely, in keeping God’s law, there is a large reward. The honest Keke driver or Aba man who returned 4 million naira to his passenger is rewarded for being honest.
The post was accompanied by photo of Lucky Okoro receiving the said largesse.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
