My Quest for Affluence and Money. Episode 5

Later, after thinking back and forth on what to do, a stupid idea that led to this happy ending I'm getting in life popped up in my head. Won't you ask what the idea was? He asked. I responded, What was the idea? He continued, it was the idea of selling the house all by myself. I said to myself If Mum sold the house, the money would be paid into her account and I may not get a desirable amount but if I sold it, I would deduct as much money as I wanted, travel to Malaysia, and send the rest of the money into her account. Instantly, I put the house up for sale on Instagram with an asking price of 50 million naira. Some showed interest but asked for the price to be beaten down while others insulted me for wanting to sell such a house for that ridiculous amount of money.

Mum called two days later to ask why I hadn't taken the document to Barr. Adroit. I told her I wasn't feeling well. She told me she would call the lawyer to send one of his staff to come get the documents at home. Immediately I dropped the call, I went to make photocopies of the document and I also bought a new clear bag to put them in. Shortly after I returned home, Miss Grace, the lawyer's secretary came to the house and I gave her the supposed document. Thank goodness, she didn't check it.

A few days later, I got a buyer who was willing to pay 50 million naira for the house. That sounds suspicious but I was blinded by greed and couldn't see his scheme. I gave him the address and he came for inspection. After inspection, we proceeded to the court to make the agreement papers. While waiting for the papers, I had a rethink and decided not to sell the house again. I told the buyer my recent decision but he pleaded for the house and even promised to add 5 million naira to the initially agreed price. The handwriting was on the wall but my greed could not let me see it. In my over-excited mood, I signed my inheritance to a total stranger without receiving a kobo first. After I had signed the agreement papers, I came back to my senses. I asked for the money. Immediately, the man made the supposed transfer. I received the alert and I handed the document over to the new owner of the house.

I went straight home from there to have my bath and quickly pack my few stuff out of the house. Since I had sold almost everything in the house, I didn't have much to pack. While having my bath, a bit of sense crept into my head, I asked myself how possible it was to transfer 55 million Naira on phone. I quickly rushed out of the bathroom to check my account balance. Lo and behold the money wasn't there. Then I realized that I had been scammed. A scammer was scammed. Can you see how good a life I have lived? he asked but I couldn't say anything. I was shocked beyond words and was just staring at him with a blank face.

He continued, Immediately, I dialed the man's number, It rang and suddenly went off. I called several but the phone was off. Right then and there, I knew that I had succeeded in bringing down my family to the lowest. I started thinking of what to do. After hours of racking my brain without getting a solution, I went to the nearest bar to have alcohol. I drank to a stupor and dragged myself home.

The next morning, I heard a loud bang on the door. I was still suffering from a hangover but I managed to drag my feet to the door. A young man and woman that I presumed to be a couple were standing at the door claiming right to my house. I asked them to call their scammer friend to come out and face me. They claimed to have bought the house the previous day, the same day I sold it. They presented the document but that didn't stop me from accusing them. I called my friends and we beat them up. They managed to escape but returned a few hours later with policemen. I was apprehended and taken to the police station where the police confirmed them to be the legal owner of the house after hearing from both sides. They were ready to press charges against me so, I was locked up in the cell.

Few days later, I was informed that they already filed a case. On the day of my hearing, inside the court box, I fainted and was rushed to the hospital with a police officer watching over me. The nurse administer some drugs on a drip and got it fixed on my body. I zoomed off. In my sleep, I had a nightmare and jumped from sleep. The dream was so scary. I checked the door saw a policeman talking to a lady. I knew he was there to watch over me. Since he was distracted, I decided to escape. I ran away from the hospital and boarded a trailer to Lagos. That was how I landed in Lagos. You see how I ruined my life with my own hands. He said to me and took a deep breath. All I could utter was "It is well"