₦airaland Forum

I was tuned in to a radio program recently in Aba 'Ask a Lawyer' when a rather troubling message from a caller was read out. The caller explained how he had mistakenly overpaid his tithe to his church. According to him, he intended to pay ₦10,000, but in error, he transferred ₦100,000 into the church’s account.

When he realized the mistake, he quickly approached one of the pastors to request a refund of the excess ₦90,000. To his surprise, the pastor told him, “It may be God’s will.” The man, however, insisted that the entire amount was not his. He explained that the excess money had an actual owner, and he needed to return it.

The pastor then assured him that he would take the matter to the General Overseer of the church. Days later, the caller followed up, but the feedback he got was shocking: the pastor told him there would be no refund. According to the church, the money now “belonged to God,” and once it had entered the church’s account, it had entered “God’s account.”

The caller said he was left speechless. He had made a genuine mistake, was transparent about it, and pleaded for the refund, but the church remained firm that there would be no return of the money.

It raised serious questions for me as I listened:

Should a place of worship not embody fairness, justice, and compassion?

Can it really be “God’s will” to withhold money that doesn’t rightfully belong to the giver?

Or was this simply an abuse of authority, hiding behind the name of God?


Hearing this story on the radio made me reflect deeply on accountability, both spiritual and ethical. Faith leaders are entrusted with people’s resources, and when mistakes like this happen, transparency and empathy should guide their actions. Otherwise, the line between genuine service to God and exploitation of believers becomes dangerously blurred.

And the church building is still standing? Maybe the young man doesn't really need the money. If I was the one, by the time the church building gets set on fire as a burnt offering unto the Lord, the pastor will understand.

It is God's money and the man shouldn't be refunded. He was not forced at gun point to donate the money.

Hahaha, see scam everywhere even in the so called house of God

helinues:
Hahaha, see scam everywhere even in the so called house of God

What's the scam here?

Dazzay:
What's the scam here?

Read and comprehend. Bye

I am struggling to believe this story...let the person involved name the church responsible for this.

olaric:
I am struggling to believe this story...let the person involved name the church responsible for this.

You don't believe that scam exist? Dey play.

The pastor should refund him. Simple.

helinues:
Hahaha, see scam everywhere even in the so called house of God

if someone said same abt ur religion, you would feel offended. Pls practise tolerance

jmoore:
I was tuned in to a radio program recently in Aba 'Ask a Lawyer' when a rather troubling message from a caller was read out. The caller explained how he had mistakenly overpaid his tithe to his church. According to him, he intended to pay ₦10,000, but in error, he transferred ₦100,000 into the church’s account.

When he realized the mistake, he quickly approached one of the pastors to request a refund of the excess ₦90,000. To his surprise, the pastor told him, “It may be God’s will.” The man, however, insisted that the entire amount was not his. He explained that the excess money had an actual owner, and he needed to return it.

The pastor then assured him that he would take the matter to the General Overseer of the church. Days later, the caller followed up, but the feedback he got was shocking: the pastor told him there would be no refund. According to the church, the money now “belonged to God,” and once it had entered the church’s account, it had entered “God’s account.”

The caller said he was left speechless. He had made a genuine mistake, was transparent about it, and pleaded for the refund, but the church remained firm that there would be no return of the money.

It raised serious questions for me as I listened:

Should a place of worship not embody fairness, justice, and compassion?

Can it really be “God’s will” to withhold money that doesn’t rightfully belong to the giver?

Or was this simply an abuse of authority, hiding behind the name of God?


Hearing this story on the radio made me reflect deeply on accountability, both spiritual and ethical. Faith leaders are entrusted with people’s resources, and when mistakes like this happen, transparency and empathy should guide their actions. Otherwise, the line between genuine service to God and exploitation of believers becomes dangerously blurred.

He should arrest the pastor or report the transaction as erroneous in his bank

Dazzay:
It is God's money and the man shouldn't be refunded. He was not forced at gun point to donate the money.

Let’s be using sense please.

You go to the grocery store, you are to pay N10,000 then you mistakenly pressed N100,000.

Would you ask for a refund of N90,000, or it is now the grocery store’s money; so you will let it go cuz you were not forced at gun point to transfer the money

God doesn’t even want anything you are not giving willing, read your bible

Let go of folly in 2025 please

olaric:
I am struggling to believe this story...let the person involved name the church responsible for this.

Even if you don’t believe it, such is possible. It has happened to someone this year , it even made the news then. Just answer the question if you were the one.

Tinubu has infested our national life. The people mirror their leaders.

We shall meet him in court.
I also did same thing last week .wanted to transfer 6k then a call distracted me and ibtransferrd 26k.
The receiver denied it entered.till date.
Everyone in naija is a thief.
Shey na opay customer care bot I wan come dey battle
Abegi.
I left it to The Good Lord

2cribz:
We shall meet him in court.
I also did same thing last week .wanted to transfer 6k then a call distracted me and ibtransferrd 26k.
The receiver denied it entered.till date.
Everyone in naija is a thief.
Shey na opay customer care bot I wan come dey battle
Abegi.
I left it to The Good Lord

For me once I'm making a transfer and their is a distraction I will completely suspend the transaction and do it another time.

I have learnt from experience that the cost of preventing a mistake is always less than the cost of correcting that mistake when it happens!

Pulpit bandits, mordern day banditry. They are all hustlers, they will owe you and still give you attitude. I avoid them entirely

Don't refund the money or refund only to the sender. This could be stolen funds and used the church as an escape route. Becareful guyz.

Pastor has given it to God , so he should collect it back from God and tell God it was a mistake.

This is definitely an old gist. I have heard this twice this year

Harddiskng:
Let’s be using sense please.

You go to the grocery store, you are to pay N10,000 then you mistakenly pressed N100,000.

Would you ask for a refund of N90,000, or it is now the grocery store’s money; so you will let it go cuz you were not forced at gun point to transfer the money

God doesn’t even want anything you are not giving willing, read your bible

Let go of folly in 2025 please

Lol. Remember God's bankers have spoken. The money has entered G-mail.

Since people nor wan get sense, make God's bankers dey chop their money.

Dazzay:
It is God's money and the man shouldn't be refunded. He was not forced at gun point to donate the money.

The usual tales on nairaland

Pastor not named

church not named

Plus someone is so lazy that they forget to dobule check what they are sending....

Tell me another story...like the one where a pastor fell in love with a prostitute and married her, and they had 11 children...

Chai Chai Chai Chai Chai Chai Chai Chai Chai Chai Chai Chai

you no fit LEAVE 100k for FINE GUY MAN?
you dex for ur BROTHERLY

IF you still BELIEV to PAY TITHE after NEW TESTAMNENT, u should be able no AMOUNT is MSTAKEN to be paid to GOD

Moral lesson, you need to be very attentive, focused and alert when making a transfer

This actually happened.
D person wey wan give 10k will do 120k commutative in a yr and more other yrs. That 90k wey d pastor no release will be the last money from that man. Who lose on the long run?

henrybomb:
He should arrest the pastor or report the transaction as erroneous in his bank

Aswearugad, You too Sabi. Taah, make I bend if I no collect that money. Na to give testimony and say what happened, make the church end🤷🏿

Dazzay:
It is God's money and the man shouldn't be refunded. He was not forced at gun point to donate the money.

God does not force anyone to contribute Money, if at all, God has anything to do with that Money.
This is 'Man's Inhumanity to Man'.

The Church Member should file a Complaint with his Bank, stating there was a Transfer Error. The Account will be put on "Hold" (PND), if the Church does not Refund the Money
He or She should then Report the error transfer to the CBN Reporting Portal and consider sending a Petition to the EFCC, because if they dont refund the Money, "Error" is going to turn to "Fraud".

Stealing in the Name of God is not Allowed.