Reps urge FG to confer national honour on Nigerian who returned missing cash in Japan

The house of representatives has urged the federal government to confer a national honour on Ikenna Nweke, the Nigerian doctorate student who returned missing cash in Japan.

At Thursday’s plenary session, the lower legislative chamber also urged the federal government to employ him in the Nigerian university system upon the completion of his studies in Japan.

Nweke had found a wallet containing a “huge sum of money” while on his way home in Japan in June 2020.

Not only did he return it for the owner, but he also refused to collect a percentage of the money that he is entitled to by law.

The house debated the matter following a motion sponsored by Miriam Onuoha and Musa Bagos from Imo and Plateau respectively.

In her lead debate, Onuoha said a nation is portrayed by the manifestation of the character and values of its citizens.

She said considering the negative impression about Nigerians across the world, Nweke’s example has shown that “there are still honest Nigerians with integrity.”

“The good character exhibited by Mr. Nweke is worthy of emulation by all Nigerians to maintain the integrity and protect the nation’s image, especially Nigerians in the diaspora with the belief,” she said.

After unanimously adopting the motion, the green chamber also asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to confer Nweke with the honour of an anti-corruption ambassador.

It added that the federal government should “ensure sustained scholarship provision for the remaining period of his PhD programme.”

In July last year, President Muhammadu Buhari wrote a letter of commendation to Nweke in which he saluted him “for projecting the values of honesty, integrity and contentment.”