My Multi-millionaire Uber Driver
By: Charles A. Adeogun-Philips
A Life Lesson in Humility Delivered in an Uber.
Something quite spectacular happened to me in London yesterday. I needed to buy some household items from a hardware store. Hardware stores are usually suitated in retail parks which are more often than not located in Greater London.
Being a Sunday, the retail park wasn’t open until 12 noon. I ordered and embarked on my Uber ride from my location in the W8 area at about 12.26pm.
The journey to the retail park in the NW2 area of London was estimated to take 34 minutes – it was quite a long one spanning about 23 miles.
I got into the back of a black Toyota Pirus sedan and exchanged the usual pleasantries with my driver, an elderly south Asian looking man. His name had appeared as Gul Nabi on the Uber booking confirmation.
Shortly after the journey began, in my usual chatty manner, I asked my driver how his day was going and whether he had been busy prior to my ride?
He responded that i was only his 2nd client that day as he had only started work at 11am that morning and planned retire to his home by 4pm that afternoon.
I have often been told that it is the flexibility that Uber affords its drivers that is the key to its global success. But as it was later to be revealed, Mr Gul Nabi was no ordinary Uber driver.
In fact there was nothing that could have prepared me for my encounter with this unusual Uber driver, yesterday. And i mean, nothing.
As we continued ourjourney from West to North West London through Holland Park, Ladbroke Grove, Kensal Rise, Willesden Green and Cricklewood areas, Mr Nabi returned the courtesy by asking the same question of me. How is your day sir?
I responded that it was my first time out that day and complained about the bitterly cold weather, how expensive London had become and how I couldn’t wait to return to Lagos the following day.
We talked generally about the UK ecomony vis-a-vis the increased cost of living, compared to how things were when i lived in London almost 3 decades ago.
I told him how i left the UK at the end of 1997 and how thankful I was that I never had to live there permanently.
Mr Nabi replied that he had contemplated doing the same thing after he won the lottery in 2002.
At first, on account of his accent, I didn’t think I heard him correctly. So I responded? Did you just say you won the lottery?
He responded ” yes sir, I won 3 million pounds in 2002″
At that stage forgetting I had strapped myself into my seat, I attempted to lean forward in order to touch his shoulder… as I uttered the following question…
“Did you actually receive 3 million pounds?
Mr Nabi responded…”sir not one penny was taken from of it. I was paid 3 million pounds into my bank account.
He continued, I intially kept it in a regular high street bank account but later I transferred it an investment bank where i got a much better interest.
I couldn’t hold myself back when I asked the next question; so what are you doing driving an Uber when you have been a multi-millionaire for 23 years?
He laughed as though he was awaiting that question.
I have always been a cab driver, sir. I have done this job for 45 years now. I have a farm in Northern Pakistan but its winter there now so not much is happening. What would I be doing sitting at home all day?
By now, we were about half way into our journey and had become a little more relaxed with each other.
So I asked, do you mind me asking how did you spend your 3 million pounds? Do you have any of it left?
Again he smiled. I could see his face through the rear view mirror!
He replied;
I shared about half a million. I needed to do that. I gave my family. I started with my only sister and then my 5 brothers. There are 7 of us. Then my grand uncle who is now 95 years old, i gave him money too. I paid off his mortgage.
Adeogun-Philips SAN led the UN team of prosecutors on the Rwandan Genocide between 1998 and 2010
Sir, the money came from God and so I shared about half a million pounds and I still had plenty left. I am still a millionaire. My children are old now and I live in a nice brand new 2 bed flat opposite Wembley Staduim.
Again, I looked at this man’s face through the rear view mirror of this Toyota Pirus car i was riding in. This guy was at peace driving his little car and telling me about his life as a millionaire.
He had this smile on his face as if to say.. Mr “Charlice”… you need to calm down.
He knew that I was completely beliwedered by his life story and seemed to be enjoying himself.
I looked at his clothes, they were just regular. Primark type even. Not even M&S. I looked at his wrist.. I don’t recall seeing a watch, let alone a fancy one.
Before I could ask another question, he promptly volunteered to inform me that he spent another 500k acquiring two properties in the Wembley area which is where he lived prior to winning.
He told me that he also purchased a massive farm by a lake in Northern Pakistan which is where he originates from.
He told me how he lived in a 4 bed semi detacted home before 2002 which he later had converted to a 7 bedroom home following which, he has allowed some relatives to stay there at a very reduced rent just enough to maintain the outgoings therefrom.
So I asked him, so have you stopped playing the lottery? He replied, No sir.
Then I asked again, is it possible to win the lottery twice?
He replied, yes. I won 1300 pounds recently. I had 5 out of the 6 numbers!
34 minutes later we arrived at the retail park and Mr. Nabi alighted first to open the trunk where i had kept a shopping bag.
As he handed my bag to me, I shook his hand in gratitude to this humble mutli-millionaire Uber driver!
As I walked away, I turned back to him and said; I have never met a lottery winner, talk less of being driven by one.
This is one encounter that would remain with me for the rest of my life.
Charles A. Adeogun-Philips is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He sent this piece to Text and Publishing from Lagos.
Adeogun-Philips is first cousin with the author of HUMANITY
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