26/08/25
When Money Develops Wings: A Case Study on Criminality Amongst Men of Honour
By Livy-Elcon Emereonye
“A good name is better than gold.” – African Proverb
Money is a restless spirit. Like fire, it warms when controlled but consumes when mishandled. Its neutrality can mislead; it uncovers character rather than forming it. The phrase “when money develops wings” captures the tragedy of resources disappearing without accountability. The true tragedy stems not from losing wealth, but from the betrayal of trust, especially when those responsible are individuals who once presented themselves as honorable men.
While money itself remains impartial, it can unveil the essence of human character. In the hands of the upright, it is a resource for building, empowering, and preserving values. However, when corrupt individuals handle it, it turns into a tool for betrayal, oppression, and destruction.
When money develops wings, it does not fly on its own — it is given wings by men. And when such men are those entrusted as honourable custodians, their fall becomes both personal and societal tragedy. The fundamental insight reveals that honor is a fragile concept that requires diligence, transparency, and moral fortitude to sustain.
Honour should serve as a protective barrier of integrity, but when those who hold it fall prey to greed, that barrier transforms into a disguise — hiding their true selves while they engage in theft.
An honorable man needs to live by honesty, justice, and faithfulness. But history and present realities show a painful irony: the gravest betrayals are often committed not by the notorious outlaw, but by the respected elder, the decorated leader, the esteemed professional, and the self-acclaimed men of honour.
Socrates once said, “The greatest way to live with honour in this world is to be what we pretend to be.” Too many men wear honour as a costume, pretending virtue in public while practicing vice in private.
Among the Igbo, there is wisdom: “The child who says his father’s house should not stand is also saying his own house should not stand.” When men of honour betray the trust reposed in them, they do not only damage society’s foundation; they also destroy their own legacy. Alongside the neatly pressed brocade, the true character cannot remain concealed from the public eye.
Life presents the irony that guardians can morph into hunters, benefiting from what they should be preserving. They inflate contracts and rob society blind, taking lives for the sake of power.
Trust bestows honour; it cannot be claimed like a mantra. Elders, leaders, fund managers, and law guardians are expected to serve the common good. This trust, however, holds a certain temptation. The figure has no limits.
The public official who raises contract prices, causing projects to stay eternally undone.
The religious figure who redirects contributions meant for those in need.
The patriarch who takes advantage of inheritance for his benefit.
The specialist who masks fraudulent behaviour with professional titles.
In each case, money “develops wings” — not through accident, but through design. The misfortune grows larger since it is not outsiders who take from us, but people we once regarded as exemplars of moral integrity.
The phrase ‘money develops wings’ implies that it disappears, lacks oversight, or suffers from mismanagement — often linked to criminal behaviour. It is particularly ironic that the individuals designated as ‘men of honour’ — leaders, professionals, and trusted guardians — are often the ones committing the crime.
Money develops wings through predictable paths:
Greed embodies a never-ending hunger that possessions cannot appease. “The goat that eats the yam does not consider the rope tied to its neck.”
People often justify theft by labeling it as entitlement, ‘borrowing,’ or ‘settlement.’
Usman dan Fodio declared, “Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it.” Yet many silence conscience to enjoy ill-gotten wealth.
Impunity involves the assumption that one’s social standing or recognition provides immunity from negative outcomes, but change is constant.
The impact of criminal behaviour among men of honour extends beyond financial loss; it also affects moral values and future generations. Trust erodes, institutions falter, and young individuals discover that deceit yields greater rewards than integrity.
Chinua Achebe observed, “One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.” But compromise among men of honour makes corruption seem ordinary. It makes betrayal seem acceptable and weakens the core values that unite a people.
Even so, honour isn’t an everlasting crown; it’s a fragile attire that requires daily renewal through integrity. Aristotle once wrote that “the greatest virtues are those most useful to others.” By this measure, a man’s honour is worthless if it enriches only himself while impoverishing the community.
African wisdom reminds us: “The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.” When those in positions of trust become agents of betrayal, the fall is collective, not individual.
To grasp the notion of trust being broken, integrity being undermined, and how greed or wrong priorities can change ‘men of honour’ into offenders, it may be useful to critically analyze some groups that depict custodians as predators.
People holding positions of power tend to engage in various fraudulent behaviours for self-promotion, compete in sexual exploitation, and heighten administrative recklessness using deceptive phrases and slogans, reflecting a concerning inclination to elevate malevolence with blatant audacity.
Ultimately, when money develops wings, it is not the currency that flies but the conscience that fails. When men of honour fall into criminality, the loss is heavier than stolen wealth — it is the collapse of trust, the weakening of values, and the betrayal of future generations.
The principle holds true across time: money will always tempt, but honour must always resist. Fortune can vanish, yet a good name remains. And as the old African saying insists, “A good name is better than gold.”
When money develops wings, it does not fly on its own — it is given wings by men. When individuals like these take on the role of esteemed guardians, their downfall turns into a tragedy for both themselves and society. Integrity is tenuous, and to protect it one must exercise caution, sincerity, and boldness in morals.
Secrets come to light with time, yet no individual can flee from their shadow.
The crimes we commit for the sake of money will eventually come back to haunt us.
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