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ESTATE AGENTS OR THIEVES?

I met Dayo in my second year in Unilag, he was studying Biology while I studied Mass Communication. Dayo was a legend in school. He smashed all his exams without stress. We became friends when he was running for the President of the Student Union. Five years later, we are still good buddies. Dayo was a detailed fellow and a good judge of character, so when he told me something or someone was sure, I naturally believed him.

After school Dayo became a well-known estate agent, so when I needed a place to stay, I informed Dayo, who informed me his uncle had an empty apartment in Lekki, which was close to my new office and was also affordable. I paid for the apartment without going to inspect it. That was how much I trusted Dayo.

Two weeks after, I paid for the apartment; I was ready to move in when Dayo called to inform me that his uncle had rent out the apartment to someone else. I was shocked, where was my money? It was with his uncle. When will I get my money back? He was not sure, because his uncle was proving difficult. I was disappointed. I wanted to move desperately because of my new contract in Lekki, which was to begin on Monday. I was supervising a building project for the government, and I really wanted to impress the governor, so I could get more contracts. I had to borrow some money to get another apartment, because I couldn’t supervise the building from my residence in Ogun State.

I hired some police men to arrest Dayo in his supposed office. I had met him in this building like three times, but on getting there, I was told that no estate agent worked in that compound. I went to his house, where I had visited a few times and he had moved out. When I called Dayo, he kept giving excuses. When I told some of my friends, I was informed that the Dayo was in the habit of duping people.

One of my friends confessed that he had been duped by Dayo twice. It is over a year and the promise to get my money back is yet to be redeemed. Do the words estate agents and dubious stand side by side? 
                                

By Shally Ashimi

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