Whose Fault?

[StoryTeller]

Episode 1

Judge: Miss Seyi, under Section 10, Act 5 of the Nigerian Constitution, you have been charged with the crime of murdering one Mr. Yemi Bello. Guilty or not guilty?

Seyi: Guilty but it isn't my fault

Judge: (chuckle) whose fault is it then?

Seyi: listen to the story I have to tell, after that, you will know whose fault it is.

My name is Agunbiade SeyiOla, the only daughter and last child of High Chief Agunbiade and his lovely wife. My elder brother is the first child and the only son, we were both well cared for. Unfortunately, my dad died when I was just six years old leaving my mom to fend for my brother and me with her kola nut business.

My brother loved and wanted to be an educated fellow and my mom was ready to train him to any level he wanted to get to life, I on the other hand never wanted anything to do with schooling, all I wanted was to be treated like a princess as I was one of the most beautiful young girls in our village but my mother wanted none of this. She did everything possible to instill morals into me but she couldn't change my mind about going to school as I hated it with passion. Ohh! I so much hated how some teachers will beat and jeered at their pupils.

An incident took place one day which made me stop going to school. A teacher flogged me for an offense I knew nothing about. A particular amount of money was stolen in our class, she labeled me the thief with the claim that her instinct told her so, I was disgraced and given the beaten of my life. On getting home that day, I told my mother I won't ever go to school again.

My mother invited my brother over who at that time had finished school and was working in a good place to come speak sense into me but I refused to return to listen, I was asked what I wanted to do and i decided to learn fashion designing. I was enrolled in fashion designing at Iya Ronke's fashion school. When Iya Ronke saw that I was hardworking, she practically turned me into her house girl.

She would make me do all her house chores which include washing, cooking, cleaning, fetching water, and others. I became fed up one day and reported the issue to my mom but she didn't take it seriously, she claimed I was looking for an excuse to stop going to work.

I eventually stopped going to work and again, my mother invited my brother over, he was fed up, he asked me what I wanted to do and I said I prefer to sell since I was a very jovial person, he asked me to come up with the type of goods I want to sell and inform him.

After thinking for days, I decided to sell second-hand wear, I informed brother and he didn't hesitate to send the money, I began my business and gained a lot of customers within a short period.

To be continued...

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[StoryTeller]

Episode 2

Within a short period, I had become extremely wealthy, infact, I became one of the wealthiest girls in the village. I was able to take good care of myself, help my mother with the care of the house and also send a token to my brother in the city. One day, I decided to hawk my wares when the market didn't move well.

A college of education was newly established in my village, I decided to go there and advertise my wares since I sell females wears. Getting there, I gave the security a token for him to let me into the school. Immediately I got access into the school, I began to advertise in a funny way and in no time, students surrounded me and began to buy from me.

In the course of selling, two handsome guys walked up to where I stood selling, one of them requested for wares for his girlfriend and helped him select quality and beautiful ones. Done with buying clothes for his girlfriend, the other guy asked if he could speak to me in private. I told I could only speak to him after selling and surprisingly, he waited.

Me: ehn ehn bros, you say you wan talk to me. Hope no wahala abi you wan do business with me ni because as I dey, na business and money dey my head?

Guy: see sharp babe. Well, my name na Tega and I wan tell you say I like you

Me: like me?? You know me before ni?

Tega: I no know you before but as I dey come with my friend wey I see you, na him my spirit tell me say na you be the wife wey I don dey look for

Me: wife ke? How old I will be wey I wan be your wife?

Tega: you go be my wife for the future but for now, I want make we know each other. See, I don fall in love with you as in, my heart dey beat for you

Me: bros, see, I no fit do wetin you dey talk. Okunrin oo she fi Okan tan (men can't be trusted). I no fit abeg, after now, you go give me belle and run away. Me wey no go school before

Tega: I no go do that. E be like say you no know me for this domain. I don know you for long na, you be a fine and hardworking girl and na that kain woman I want put for my house. My love, just give me one chance, I go love and take care of you

Me: bros, I no do abeg

Tega: I don dey watch you for long oooo and my heart want you , if you no accept me, I no go fit sleep for the night

Me: bros, if sleep no come, use a a tablet, e go help you

Tega: why I go use tablet when na you be the solution to my problem. Oya please na, shey make I knee down abi make I tell people make dem beg you

Me: abeg e neva reach that one. No be say I no like you too, you be fine boy but the thing be say I no want make you break my heart

Tega: I no go break your heart, shey you go think about am

Me: hmmm, make I go think am sha

To be continued...

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[StoryTeller]

Episode 3

Before I gave Tega a reply, he was always coming to my shop to help me with my wares, the way he do advertise was something else as in, his own method brought me more customers. He even went as far as inviting his friends and coursemates to start patronizing me, in a few days, I had to start buying in a larger quantity.

As times went by, some of my friends began to advise me on giving him a yes while one or two or them said otherwise, they advised me to be watchful and careful as Tega might just be after my body.

Ola: Seyi, don't lose this dude ooo

Me: gold? I am afraid oooo, I even thought he is pretending

Ola: I don't think he is pretending, look at how he do help you to sell your goods. Not only that, he even invite his friends to patronize you, I think this is true love

Uloma: Seyi, shine your eyes ooo, handsome dude like this will have a girlfriend?

Me: hmmm, I am confused, I don't know if he is for real or not

Kemi: Seyi, date this guy. At least, you are not educated but he is, that will balance things

Uloma: a guy that went to school won't want to marry a girl that's not educated

Well, I decided to give Tega a chance, I decided to give dating a chance. Few months into the relationship, I was already in love with him, there was nothing I wouldn't want to do for him. When he was in need of school fees, I gladly gave him the money I made from my goods, I was just so much in love, I gladly gave him my virginity without putting Uloma's advice into practice.

Three months later, Adaeze, one of Tega's neighbors called me and gave me a piece of advice.

Ada: Seyi, you are a fine girl, don't allow someone like Tega misuse you ooooh

Me: hanhan aunty, wetin my boyfriend do for you?

Ada: yesterday evening, I was in the room when I heard he and his friends laughing at you, he called you a cheap village Champion. Seyi, this guy does not love you, he is just after your body. Focus on your business, become a rich woman and get married to someone that will value you

Me: ehn ehn aunty, e don do. Tega no gree date you, e con dey pain you. Leave me and my Tega alone.

To be continued...

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[StoryTeller]

Episode 4

Hmm, I wished I had listened to Adaeze, I wished I had not given Tega a chance maybe my story would have been a different one today.

After one hot session with Tega one day, I laid my head on his chest and remembered what Adaeze told me then, I narrated the situation to Tega. Tega was so mad when he heard what Adaeze told me.

Tega: I go teach this girl lesson

Me: no na, no do that. I no believe her because I know say you love me

Tega: that girl just dey jealous. When I first pack enter this yard, na my padi she be, she dey give me food everyday. One day con come, she con tell me say she loves me. That kain matter tire me because na man suppose toast woman, I tell am say e no fit work, na there we no con dey talk again

Me: hmmm! Woman and jealousy, abeg no vess, just leave the idiot alone. I I know say our love go last till forever

I pleaded with Tega not to hurt Ada that day and he agreed not to but unfortunately, I was told Ada was gang-raped two days later, I questioned Tega but he denied having hands in what happened to her. I tried to see Ada ask her who raped her but she suddenly disappeared from the environment. I forgot the incident and focus on my love relationship with Tega, we became so so much in love or should I say I was the one who became so much in love with him.

I introduced Tega to my mother after six months of being in a relationship with him unfortunately, my mother disapprove of the relationship, I tried to know why she did that but she gave no valid reason. She just made me realize that he is no good for me. She informed my brother and together, they mandated me to let go of Tega but it was too late for me as I was already into him.

I became pregnant for Tega but he advised I abort it since he was still schooling which I did without hesitation, in the space of three months, I aborted four pregnancies for him.

It was Tega's final year in school and there was no money for him to pay his fees and for project. I gladly gave him all the money from my wares hence, I stopped selling since there was no more money and I couldn't ask my brother to send me another money. Tega graduated from school but didn't get a job, we both went into a particular business but it soon collapse, he was so depressed but I kept on encouraging him.

One of the richest men in our village needed someone to do his laundry and I was called upon since he said he needed a very hardworking young lady. Tega suggested I take him along so that we can stylishly submit his credentials to the rich man once we were done washing. I saw it as a good idea and together we both went for the job.

If I knew what the outcome of going along with Tega would be, I won't have gone with him as that day was the beginning of my woes.

To be continued...

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[StoryTeller]

Episode 5

On getting to the rich man's house, we were amazed at the beauty of his house as everything there reeks of beauty. It was as if it we were in Heaven, I have never set my eyes on something as beautiful as the house. We were lost in admiring the house not until a voice brought us back to reality. It was the housemaid, she asked us what we came for and then ushered us into the house after being told of our motive for coming.

We were given the rich man's clothes to go wash. I was about to start washing my hands when the maid made me realize that there was a washing machine which we were to use. The housemaid explained how we would make use of it and then left us to do our job after then, we were served a delicious meal.

Done with the meal, the housemaid took us to meet the rich man for us to receive our pay. Getting to his apartment, we met him counting some hard currencies, I was shocked so was Tega. We took our eyes away from the money and told him we were done washing, he appreciated us and paid us handsomely then, we took our leave.

We hadn't gone far when we saw the rich man drive past us, once he was gone out of sight, Tega gave me a suggestion.

Tega: Seyi, listen to this, it's not that I am a thief or a bad boy but you know we need money

Seyi: yes, where are we going to get it?

Tega: let's go back to the rich man's house and take some of the money. Thank God he didn't have a gateman just the housemaid

Seyi: Hanhan, that's wickedness ooo, what if we get caught

Tega: they can't catch us, we will leave no record

Seyi: Tega, I can't do it. I know we need money but getting money in an unclean way is not fine

Tega: how will I take good care of you if I don't have money? How will I treat you and our unborn children well if I don't have money? Sweetheart, please do this for me. Once we take the money, we would leave this village for good. Once, we settle down, we would come and take your mother to our palace

Seyi: but.......

Tega: no but, let's give it a try

That was how Tega managed to convince me to steal from the rich man. We had easy access into the house as there was no security and luckily for us, the maid was in her room sleeping. The rich man's room wasn't locked so we entered easily, found the box containing the hard currencies, and went away with it.

Tega offered to take the box to his house to avoid suspicion if I went with it to my parent's house. We had planned to leave the village very early the next morning before the cock crow, we decided to go to Lagos to become wealthy people.

I went to bed happy that evening and even dreamt of a good life with the love of my life, I saw myself having three wonderful children and driving exotic cars. I was still in the dreamland when I begin to hear shouts of people then, I heard my mom's pleading voice. I woke up only to discover that it was just 3 am, I went out to see what was happening and surprisingly, I saw some armed men from the palace trying to get into our house.

Mother: Seyi, these men are here to get you, what have you done?

Seyi: Maami, I don't understand

Armed man 1: how will you understand? You went to Chief Owolabi's house yesterday and all you could do is to steal his hard currencies

Seyi: steal ke? Maami, this is a big lie ooo. I only went there to wash his clothes and I left immediately I was done.

Second Armed man: don't worry, once you receive strokes of the cane, you will confess.

To be continued...

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[StoryTeller]

Episode 6

I was arrested and taken to the Palace where I was thrown in the guard room. The following morning came and I was brought to stand before the King, I was asked if I truly took Chief Owolabi's money but I gave a negative reply. I was asked several times but my answer remained the same, one of the elders suggested I should be tortured till I confess. The King couldn't reject the suggestion because he couldn't afford to offend Chief Owolabi as he was one of those always sponsoring events in the village.

I was given thirty strokes, and the pain I felt at that moment was unbearable. My best friend came to visit me in the village prison and I sent her to Tega to please return the money. Ola went to Tega's apartment only for Tega to deny going to Chief Owolabi's apartment with me.

Ola: Tega, do you know that your girlfriend is in the village prison?

Tega: village prison for what? What's her offense?

Ola: don't tell me you didn't go with her to Chief Owolabi's house

Tega: who is Chief Owolabi? Who told you I went there with her? I have been in my house all-day

Ola: haaa! Wonders shall never end, are you saying you didn't go to wash clothes with her?

Tega: What kind of statement is that? How will I go and wash clothes with her?

Ola: hmmm, okay. I think it's best you visit her in the hospital because she is in a bad shape, she was given the beating of her life

Tega: I will go and see her, Your friend disappointed me

When Ola came back with Tega's words, I was heartbroken. I didn't believe he said so, I decided not to believe what Ola said. I waited and waited for Tega to come but he didn't. When the guards came two days later to beat me, I had no choice but to confess, I was just suffering for nothing. The guards took me to the King and I didn't hesitate to tell them all that transpired.

After narrating to the King, two guards were asked to accompany me to Tega's house to go arrest him. Getting to his house, I met the shock of my life, Tega had left with the money and left just a letter for me.

Dear Seyi,

I am sorry things have to happen this way but the fact remains that I never loved you from the beginning, I was just in need of a hardworking lady who could help me foot my bills since it was obvious I would drop out if nothing was done soon. Well, you can't blame me, I just wished you listened to Adaeze, and yes, my friends and I raped Adaeze for revealing our secret to you.

I have left for a faraway land to begin life afresh, I wish you good. Thanks for bringing me into wealth.

I bid you well.

I fainted after the letter was read, my whole world came crumbling before my very eyes, I wished I had listened to my mother, I wished I had listened to Adaeze, I wished I had treaded carefully. My extended family was so disappointed in me. I was taken back to the Palace and Chief Owolabi would have none of it, all he wanted was his money. He demand they give him his money or my head.

My brother and mother went to Chief Owolabi's house and after much pleading, we were told to pay half of the money. My brother had to take a huge loan from his office which almost scattered his family as his wife was against it.

To be continued...

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[StoryTeller]

Episode 7

My brother paid the money Chief Owolabi requested, before I was finally released, the King ordered the villagers to take me around the village and sing a mockery song for me. Some angry villagers threw stones at me, one of which hit my left eye and rendered it useless as I had to be operated on before I could feel alright but I couldn't see with it again. Tessa, one of my childhood friends heard of all that happened and came to the village to see if the rumor was true or false.

Tessa met me and I didn't hesitate to narrate all that happened to her, she was so surprised to hear that I went through all that, she was disappointed in Tega as she trusted him so much. Done with explaining to Tessa, she advised come along with her to Lagos to do something meaningful with my life, she explained that a change of environment will help me forget the incident and move on with life.

At first, my mom refused to let me go with Tessa, she claimed I would bring trouble back to them. After much pleading, she finally decided to let me go. Tessa got married to a very rich man who made life easier for her, he provided her with money and everything she needs to make life better and easier. Tessa took me to her house and gave me my room, there was comfort.

Tessa owns a very big boutique in the city of Lagos where she sells female accessories. After spending a few days with her, I told Tessa I wanted to work then, she advised me to come work in her boutique with the promise to pay me so well. I accepted the offer and I started earning money, Tessa paid me fifty thousand monthly, and out of it, I send ten thousand naira each to my mother and brother. The money I kept sending to my family members make them forgive me totally and begin to accept me back into their lives. My brother's wife who suddenly hated me because I made her husband took a loan begin to love me.

A year later, Tessa brought in new goods and once she does that, she would assign her workers to go deliver them to some of her customers who had paid ahead of time. Mrs. Johnson was one of our wonderful customers, on this particular day, she had paid Tessa for some wear which I had to take to her house.

Getting to her house, she checked the goods I brought to her after which served me some food despite my refusal to wait to eat it. While eating, I suddenly began to glance through the dining. All of a sudden, my eyes fell on Mrs. Johnson's wedding frame, I looked closely at the picture and I discovered that the man looks familiar.

I tried to wave off that idea but I couldn't. After eating, she gave me transport fare and bid me good well.

To be continued...

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[StoryTeller]

Episode 8

On getting back to the boutique, I narrated my experience to Tessa and she said Mrs. Johnson's husband can't be Tega, she went on to explain that Mrs. Johnson's husband owns chains of companies all over the country hence, there was no way he could be the Tega that ran away with Chief's money.

After thinking about the issue for some weeks, I decided to let it slide and focus on my life. I had great plans for myself and I was after the realization. Tessa ensured she registered me in an adult education which helped improve my speaking and writing. Despite my bad eye, a lot of men kept on coming to me for a relationship but I had been made wiser, I didn't even give them a listening ear talk less of giving them my digit. At a point, Tessa had to plead with me to give one of them a chance to prove themselves since I won't want to die as a single person. I told her not to worry about myself and my marriage.

Mrs. Johnson's husband had been out of the country for months. His wife decided to host a little get-together to welcome him back home. Mrs. Johnson invited Tessa and me. A few days before the get-together, Mrs. Johnson pleaded with Tessa to release two of her workers to come to assist her with the cooking as those she employed to help her couldn't meet up.

My colleague traveled to see her mother so, I was the only one available. Tessa pleaded with me to go assist Mrs. Johnson and I couldn't say no as she had been so nice to me. A day before the get-together, I went to her house to help put things in order.

Mrs. Johnson and I were washing the meat when she suddenly discovered that she didn't buy turkey which happens to be her husband's favorite, she had to leave me with the meat and hurried to the market to buy Turkey. I was lost in washing the meat when I felt someone tickle me from behind, I quickly turned back to see who tickled me and surprisingly, I was staring at the man who almost destroyed my life, the man who made me lose one eye, the man who made me worthless in the village-Tega.

I was lost in staring at him that I couldn't even say anything until he broke the silence.

Tega: Seyi?

Me: yes???

Tega: what are they doing here?

To be continued...

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[StoryTeller]

Episode 9

Tega walked out of the kitchen and after twenty minutes, his wife came in and told me to leave as her husband was not comfortable with seeing me in their house, I smiled mischievously and left for home. Tessa was surprised to see me, I told her those Mrs. Johnson contracted to help her with the food came back so, my help was no longer needed.

I deliberately decided not to tell Tessa that Mrs. Johnson's husband was truly Tega as I had my plans. Tega thought he had won, he thought he could act wickedly and go away with it. Nah! He will be visited with my wrath.

Me. How far Sky? How you dey?

Sky: fine babe!!! I dey ooo

Me: Sky, I need your help, I don see the guy wey make me lose one of my eyes and I wan teach am lesson

Sky: you wan make I treat his fuckup?

Me: no worry, I wan do am myself, I just wan make you borrow me one of your guns, the one wey no dey make noise

Sky: fine babe, that one go hard ooo, I no wan make police catch me ooo, make I run this show for you na,

Me: Sky, no worry, police no go catch you. Trust me

Sky: this one go hard ooo

Me: Sky, no do me like this na, you know say I w be your person. Police no go catch me

Sky: na because you be my person oooo, abeg, make you do small small, na my source of living be that oo

Me: trust me Sky.

Sky gave me the gun I requested for and after a week of receiving the gun, I went to Tega's home in the dead of the night. I walked into their room to meet the couple sleeping peacefully, I tapped Tega roughly which brought him back to consciousness. Tega and his wife were so shocked to see me.

Me: hello baby boo, you don't need to be afraid of me, I am still the same Seyi you know or don't you know me?

Tega: Seyi, please, let's settle this amicably

Seyi: wow! Thank God, he still knows me, you know I miss you, I missed how you do touch me

Mrs. Johnson: know you?? What is happening here? What am I missing?

Seyi: don't sweat ma'am, your husband was my ex-boyfriend, I aborted three pregnancies for him and the only way he could reward me is by betraying me

Mrs. Johnson: how? Tega, say something

Seyi: don't worry, I will explain. He followed me to go wash a rich man's clothes, we both stole the money only for him to run away with it leaving me to bear the consequences of our action. Today, I have just one eye just because of our actions. All the riches he has is from the money we both stole.

Mrs. Johnson: haaa!! Tega???

Tega: I am sorry, it's the work of the devil

Seyi: and tonight, you are going to meet the devil

Without thinking twice, I shot Tega in the head.

To be continued...

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[StoryTeller]

Episode 10

The following morning, Tessa knew something was wrong with me and she tried her best to find out what it was but I refused to talk. Yes, Tega reaped what he sowed but I later began to regret my actions. I should have just let Karma deal with him, I shouldn't have stained my hands with blood but the deed has been done. I wanted to run away but I didn't find the courage to do so. Two days later, I was arrested and charged to court.

PRESENT

Judge: Hmm! What a story! This is a big lesson for every young people out there. Young men should learn to work hard to make it in life. Ladies should know the real intention of a man before going into a relationship with him. And to everyone, what goes around will surely come around, you can't run away from the result of your action. This is my judgment...

Me: (weeping) Mercy lord!!!

Judge: (looks at her and shakes his head) well, it's a pity you have to end your life like this even though you were a victim, I hope you have learned your lesson. After going through all the evidence presented before me, I hereby sentence you to death by hanging.

Clerk: Court!!!

THE END

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