Chapter 3: The Truth About Musa

I contact person for Musa company—Z Company. Na Mr. Adebayo, head of employee supervision.

Mr. Adebayo get reputation for office—strict man, grey hair, always dey shout for HR people. I wear shirt and tie, no wan fall hand.

I introduce myself as lawyer for Musa family, say I wan talk about the case.

I yarn am with my best legal grammar, try show say I serious and no dey joke.

Mr. Adebayo agree make we see.

He yarn me for phone, voice no get patience. "Come tomorrow, 12pm. No late."

I ask, "Director Adebayo, fit make I bring family member?"

I try see if Ifeoma fit come, make she hear first-hand.

"Family member?"

He pause, maybe dey reason say na drama go burst if wife come.

"Him wife."

Mr. Adebayo pause. "Lawyer Tunde, abeg come alone. Some things no good make wife hear."

He add small, "E get some wahala wey no fit settle for family front."

I surprise but accept.

For my mind, I dey wonder wetin Musa do wey e bad like that. But I gree, no wan carry extra drama.

Ifeoma don already take leave, she dey eager to hear about the case, but as I tell her say na only me go, her voice just drop. "Oh."

Her excitement die, she just nod, face phone. I fit see say disappointment choke her.

"Tunde, abeg try beg them. Whether na to pay money or anything, as e go help reduce Musa wahala, I go do am."

She talk soft, her eye red. She dey reason how to save Musa, even if na sell her gold.

"No worry, sister-in-law. I go tell them."

I pat her shoulder, try reassure her.

Afternoon, I reach Z Company. Mr. Adebayo send person carry me go quiet meeting room.

Receptionist arrange bottled water, AC full blast. I cross leg, bring out jotter, ready for anything.

I thank am—because once police dey involved, company no need talk to us again.

I dey surprised say dem still give us chance, most companies go just lock door.

"Director Adebayo, Musa family dey worry since dem hold am." I pause. "Make I talk straight—wetin exactly Musa do?"

I put my lawyer face, try act professional.

Mr. Adebayo explain, "Musa no too senior here, but he dey manage outsourced team, na him dey control their bonus. Position no high, but power dey."

He dey play down Musa level, but I know say Musa always dey blow him role for outside.

I shock. Musa always dey claim director. So na packaging.

For my mind, I dey smile—Musa and packaging na five and six.

Mr. Adebayo continue, "E start when one girl from outsourced team report am say Musa dey use him power anyhow, dey follow women, dey date five girls from outsourced team at once, dey give dem extra money without process."

My mouth wide—Naija man dey try, but five at once? Na movie script?

Five at once?

My mouth open. I no believe. Na the same Musa?

I dey remember how Musa dey toast small girls for club, but I no know say e reach this level. Five babes for one team, chai.

"Yes, the girl wey report am na one of the girlfriends." Mr. Adebayo look me. "He tell all the girls say he single, dey date them like normal, even meet some of their parents. If wife hear... how she go take am?"

He pause, eye dey fix me. He dey test my reaction, maybe make I run tell family.

Ehn... how she go take am?

For my mind, if na my sister, wahala for burst. Na only God dey save Musa.

Any normal woman go craze.

If na me be Ifeoma, na wahala.

I dey imagine house scatter, clothes fly window, Naija woman no dey take nonsense.

"Company no be dating ground. This one serious, so we report am. Finance see say he carry over 800,000 naira, plus all the extra money wey he give those girls."

He adjust file, show me document. Figures dey everywhere. The case clear.

I say, "Director Adebayo, the family ready to pay back, beg make una forgive, so e go help for court."

I talk am gentle, voice calm. Na so Naija dey beg—no be by gra-gra.

He spread hand. "We be business. If Musa fit return money, make we no lose, we go write forgiveness letter for police. As lawyer, you sabi say e important for sentence."

He look me direct, like say na negotiation be this. For Naija, money dey solve half problem.

The message clear—bring money.

No be secret again, na to find solution remain.

"How much time we get?"

I dey reason deadline, because if prosecutor touch file, wahala go big.

"Na your side. Facts clear, evidence strong. Before end of month, case go reach prosecutor."

He talk am like person wey dey sell pepper for market. Time dey go, if you ready buy, buy quick.

The more e drag, the worse.

For Naija, delay dey spoil case. Police go soon tire, but prosecutor no dey hear story.

I leave, meet Ifeoma, tell her about the money. I no talk about Musa woman matter.

Her face just pale. She hold bag tight, eye full of worry. For my mind, I dey debate whether to yarn her the real story.

Maybe I wrong, but as Musa friend, I no fit break him heart. Still, I dey pity Ifeoma. She marry the wrong guy.

I know say if I open mouth talk the full gist, na her heart go scatter. Loyalty get limit too.

She talk low, "800,000 naira? Where the money go? I never see am before."

She dey shake head, mouth open. For her mind, she dey calculate all Musa salary, e no add up.

"Na only Musa know."

I try dodge answer, because wetin I see for file na story wey fit break marriage.

For my mind, I sure say na those girls chop the money.

True talk, for this Lagos, five babes go run you down. Even Dangote go feel am.

She ask, "Tunde, if we pay back, e go help Musa?"

She dey desperate. She dey ready do anything to save husband name.

"Na private company, economic crime. If company write forgiveness letter, no pursue case, we fit apply for non-prosecution. I don see similar case—e dey work."

I break am down, give her small hope.

She set her mind. "I go try raise the money, even if I sell house."

The way she talk am, I believe. Ifeoma no dey play.

I just quiet, dey look her.

For my mind, I dey salute her spirit. Not every woman go carry husband cross like this.