In Search Of Josephine Ugwu -The Woman Who Returned 17 Million Naira

A day after I posted the picture of Josephine Ugwu, the woman that returned N17 million she found in the restroom of the Lagos International Airport, a man that has adopted me as his brother mandated me to go find this rare Nigerian so she can receive a blessing from him, I drove to the airport but Josephine De Honest was not on duty. She was in Enugu where the State Government also honoured her.

But it seems she had become so famous everybody at the airport knew her. 

Right at the entrance, the usually hostile Immigrations, Customs, NDLEA and Police officials checking airport users and driving away those who had no business being there were all too helpful the moment I mentioned I was looking for that woman who returned money.

In minutes, I was in touch with her co-workers who gave me her phone number.

The story of Josephine was told to me by willing coworkers who are all too happy to have known her.

They told me Josephine had in December 23 2014, two days to Xmas, found and returned N3million she found at the airport.

They said on December 27 of same year, she found and returned N600,000.

This year again, she was to find N17 million.

Regaled by this rare honesty, I called Josephine and we fixed to meet today.

It was just as much as I could to brush my mouth before driving to the airport one more time. I want to meet this woman that I was later to learn is from my town, Nsukka, Enugu State.

At the airport, her name was all the pass I needed to get through the gate. In five minutes she was with me and as I looked at her diminutive figure, I got the feeling of standing before a revered man of God. Her smile as I waved her over melted my soul and for the next two hours, I was to hear the compelling story of an angel whose poverty could not overwhelm so much she could steal.

Josephine confirmed all what her colleagues said. But she told me what they could not tell.

She said nearly all of them mocked her each time she returned those monies. She told me her salary was a mere N7,800 every month.

She told me how a friend she had helped back in Enugu, brought her to Lagos.

She told me how after arriving Lagos, her friend who was now married, asked her to become her nanny.

She told me how she prayed at the Blessed Sacrament at St Leo's Ikeja and a voice told her to go to Ipodo market in Ikeja.

She told me how she got to Ipodo and met a pastor who gave her message about her being a vessel of God.

She told me how one thing led to another, the pastor gave her accommodation.

She told me how she got the job as a cleaner at the airport.

She told me how she began two small businesses while doing the cleaning job.

First she will collect all the plastic water bottles drank by travellers and other airport users for onward sale to women who use them to sell palm oil and groundnut oil. She was making as much as N6000 a week from this 

She told me how she used this seed money to also be cooking peppersoup, abacha and other small meals that she was selling to Customs, NDLEA, Immigration and other big men at the airport.

She told me that when she saw the initial N3million, she remembered that Jesus was tempted three times. So it did not surprise her when she also saw the second sum of N600,000. 

She said when she saw the recent N17 million, she knew it was temptation from God to test her faith.

Then she asked me: "my brother, are you not surprised that it was after the third time that people started hearing about me?"

My mouth was agape. I noticed this as a cool strand of tear strolled from my right eye into my mouth.

She said she was a contented person and desires nothing except peace.

She gave me a hug when she noticed my tears.

I was filled with so much joy I did not want to walk away from her.

But before I left, it became my turn to make her cry.

I informed her that this my brother who had asked me to look for her is proposing to put her on a salary for one whole year!!!!

She leapt and hugged me again, sobbing in contented excitement. I told her the person might bring only N1 or N100 every month but it will be for a full year and she asked me in Nsukka: " Come my brother, even if he just asked you to come and thank me, that is enough. Did I give him something to keep for me? May God continue to bless him.

Awed by this uncommon humility, honesty and contentment, I walked away, worried about my own life and how well I have lived it.

I realised I just have too many holes to fill.

Josephine De Honest.

That's my new name for her

This article was sent in by Chukwudi Iwuchukwu