A shocking financial story is going viral after a Nigerian man chose prison time over repaying money that was mistakenly deposited into his bank account.
According to reports, the situation began in 2025 when First Bank accidentally transferred close to 1.1 million dollars into the man’s account. Instead of reporting the error, he reportedly spent part of the money.
Authorities later stepped in, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was able to recover some of the funds. However, the man was still left owing nearly 300,000 dollars.
When ordered to repay the remaining balance, the man said he did not have the money. Instead of setting up a payment plan, he chose to serve a one year prison sentence.
Despite serving time, he is still expected to repay the remaining amount after his release.
The story has sparked major debate online. Some people say he should have reported the money immediately, while others question whether prison was the better option compared to long-term debt.
It is a reminder that even accidental money can come with serious consequences.