Unbelievable Greed

Sometime last year a childhood friend of mine called and told me that her mother would like to retain me as the attorney for their family property. I accepted. From the first legal fees I got from the estate, I gave a certain sum to my friend and her mum just to say thank you for the business. They were pleasantly surprised at my gesture and profusely thanked me too. Ever since that transaction I have drawn one lease agreement for a new tenant on the property only.

A few days ago, my friend’s mum called me and told me about a vacant flat in the property that she had recently leased out and she wanted me to meet with the tenant and draw up the usual agreement papers. I told her it was not a problem and asked her to send the tenant to my office. Surprisingly, before the tenant got to my office, my client (i.e. my friend’s mum) called me again and told me that I should find her and her sister “something.” I did not understand what she meant and so I asked her to explain and she repeated what she earlier said. It was then it dawned on me that she wanted me to give her and her sister part of my legal fees for this present work on the property. Then I asked her how much she wanted me to give to them and she asked me to use my discretion.

When I got off the phone, I was speechless. This was a woman that had just collected two years rent on this new lease. This sum was not enough for her and she wanted to share in the legal fees that the tenant was to pay me too! I know that in our country it is said that "anything goes", but even by these corrupt and greedy standards this was too much!

I have no words suitable enough to express my disappointment with this woman. This is a woman I have known since I was seventeen years old. I had so much respect for her especially for her faith in God. I never knew she could bow to greed to this extent. Where has it been heard that a client would avariciously long to share in the legal fees of his/her lawyer if not in this nation? Because she gave me charge of her property she has to share in my fees even after she has collected her full rent? In other words, she wants to eat from both ends - from her tenant and from her property lawyer. What words can adequately capture or describe such show of shame and disregard for integrity?

We all accuse our leaders and politicians of greed and corruption, yet greed and corruption is in the blood cells of most of the so called "ordinary man" or "ordinary masses" on the streets of our nation. Have you taken your car to a mechanic workshop before or called a technician or what we commonly call 'electrician' to do a job for you in the past or recently? What about the so called generator repairers? What has your experience been with these people? Many people I know including myself have frustrating and disappointing tales from dealing with these people. These frustrating experiences with these artisans illustrate what we are as a people. How many of us can claim that our business transactions are above board? Yet we are quick to point accusing fingers at politicians and public officers.

We need to work on ourselves as a people. Most people in this country ask for bribes and ‘kickbacks’ unashamedly. Very few people care about good name and reputation anymore. All people care about is money and more money and they sadly do not care how they get it.

If my client had told me that she was having some financial difficulty and asked for my assistance, I would have willingly assisted, but to ask to share in the legal fees I would be paid for doing a job for her after she had been fully paid by the tenant was out of line,unacceptable and a show of shame.

To accept her demands would be laying a bad precedent for the future. Today, it is herself and her sister, tomorrow, who knows their children may arise too and ask to share in this same fee.

Kindness, hospitality, generosity and neighborliness is fast disappearing from the horizon in our country and it is worrisome. Very few, if any do things for people out of the goodness of their hearts anymore. Everyone wants something back for what they do for you. The common norm now on the street is, “Nothing goes for nothing.”

I remember one day entering my sister’s bedroom and found her sad and downcast. I was worried and asked what the matter was and she said to me, “Sister, I just passed an interview for a job, but the HR Manager just called me and told me that if I do not go to bed with him, I will not get my employment letter. It keeps happening sister, everywhere I go for a job, these male managers make sexual propositions.” I felt her pain and encouraged her as best as I could. I asked her to hold on and not to compromise because God will come through for her in His time. My sister is fortunate to have older brothers and sisters who look out for her and take care of her financial needs, but what about those young women who do not have anyone to assist them through these jobless seasons? Is it any wonder that they fall into these traps out there? Is it any wonder that prostitution is on the increase? Some of these men who proposition these young girls are married with children. Sometimes the girls who come to their offices looking for jobs are same age mate with their daughters, yet they harden their hearts and frustrate their quest to actualize their dreams with demeaning sexual advances and propositions.

Friends, we need to do something about these dangerously greedy and corrupt trend in this nation. Looking for blame and solutions in the corridors of power is too far and too long a distance, lets look into our hearts, our souls and our minds and we will find the answers and solutions to this epidermic problem. Lets revisit and and redefine our core values again as individuals because EFCC cannot do it alone.

I had a meeting with my client and made my sentiments clear. May be desperate and hungry lawyers may accept such demands, but I am careful about precedents. If I perceive that I may suffer a potential discomfort or contention in the future, it is wiser to stop further steps in that direction or better still not to initiate the step from the on set. In my opinion she can brief another lawyer.

My close associates laugh at my naivety in some sharp business practices, but this was a limit for them too. It is unbelievable the things we allow and the compromises we make just to get ahead in life. We wonder when corruption will end in our nation, but in our little corner we succumb to the pressures of greed and corruption daily. What I do for my client is not friendship but business. To eat her money and eat mine too is greed and unacceptable business practice and in my opinion must not be allowed.
Written by Ebiye Tammy -Koko