Nasarawa pilgrim returns N.5m to Afghan mate, gets free hajj seat

A pilgrim from Nasarawa State Mallam Suleiman Bello has been rewarded with a free seat for the 2016 hajj after he returned about half a million Naira he found in Ka'aba, Makkah to the owner, an Afghanistani pilgrim, Alhaji Mosa Gousdin.

According to Daily Trust, Bello found the bag containing the money while doing Tawaf (circumambulation) in Ka'aba. The money was in various denominations. $2,345 (N466, 655), SR303 Saudi Riyal (N16, 076.84) and 3,020 Afghanistan currency (N9, 370.64) totaling N492, 102.44.

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Abdullahi Mukhtar Mohammed who handed over the money to the owner in the presence of other Afghan officials in Nigeria's Makkah office, announced a free seat for the pilgrim for next year's hajj as a way of rewarding for his exemplary attitude.

"He (Bello) chose to fear Allah knowing he would account to Allah on the Day of Judgement. He chose to be a good ambassador of Nigeria. He took the property to his state pilgrim officials and they brought it to us so that we can return it to the owner. This shows that Nigerians are honest and God-fearing," Mohammed said.

Bello said he was contented and never tempted to go away with the money.