IN THE OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF OATH MY MONEY WENT MISSING-

-Getting my files and evidence ready to file a suit at high court awka: where the money went missing.

 We precisely arrived by 12 noon. And We Were cordially welcomed by the awesome gate man. I enjoyed the great architecture of the high court, Awka. After some series of interrogation which it's bend was to force legal tender paper out of my pocket mana akagum m di three much, he lead us to a young man gaily dressed in black and kah ki shirt, who in quote was the commissioner of oath. Entering through the judge's hall wall way, he was cordial and friendly and for that I admires him; yes in him I saw integrity, a highly costly and scarce costume in Nigeria public office. We entered the big office which in my own casual view was sparsely furnished. The white walls  cloistered ( actually naive from what It should be) and the cupboards stacked with files. He offered us seats and I sat comfortably, having some uplifted spirit of being in one of the departments of judiciary where I pray God to let me serve him from. As he boot the laptop, his eyes never cut shot on me neither do I blink my eyes may be because of my high spirit. 

"What will i do for you" he asked serving me white hardcopy at once.

" my mum here" I drove his attention to mum sitting next to me " needs an affidavit. She want a  change of name "

"OK write the names on that paper" and I did and handed it back to him. I couldn't stand much silly questions, after all I'm not the one who needs affidavit, its mum and i diverted him to her. He was fast in type setting after the interrogations. As he stood to go with his laptop, he flashed on me. And I begin to wonder why he acts as if I'm a deterrent or something precariously dreadful or precise obstacle to his work. He finally voice out.

"Hope you know that you pay for it...I mean you knew the price" he asked looking at mum. 

At this junction, I hope I should be involve after all I was the one that brought her to court.

"But sir, I have been to owele high court and they does this free over there. Is awka and owele high court not operating with the same modus operandi?" I asked knowing fully well that I have not been in owere for the first time, yet that doesn't matter at all. He still flash me such a threat stare and I was quite. He was quite for some time before coming out again

" you don't do it free, you pay little money" he said to my mum in a more teaching tone. I was about to highjack the bargaining before mum finally cut me shut with OK. 

Haaa! Is she going to pay? Yet I have heard its for free, its one of the social amenities I should cherish as a citizen of Nigeria. My eyes was up and my heart full of spites. Yet to some extent I still have the fear of a freshman who wants to be a lawyer but had never been to a law court throughout his life. I have heard stories of how people gests there self implicated in the court. Will he get me apprehended if I asked of receipt? 

I knew two black and white leading and advisory spirit came with me and its time I consult them. One kept advising I should say no and stand and tell him in face that the service is for free.

No! Pay first and ask for receipt. 

But what is the evidence that you paid if you don't have receipt?

What if he say we don't give receipt?

Then you call him a thief. Then argue that if police catch you on the way and accuse you of stealing the paper with high court stamp, only receipt can free you of having a legal business with the high court of Awka

No don't call him a thief at all, or debate with him, a whole commissioner of oath can get you imprisoned and you people will pay more than #1,750 that he requested to get your self out from cell.

Oh I'm confuse, which spirit gave the best advice.

"Should I proceed..."

"Yes but can you issue me a receipt after.." I asked fixing my eyes on him. He was more of a shock but quietly agreed to my request. 

I expected mum to speak but she was quiet watching us. Earlier had she warned me that you don't argue in some government offices or get your self spend more on some misquote irrelevancies. The other time she argue with pub admin at the LGA, she was later asked to pay for liquor licence which is same with bear license. Though she won but that made her not to argue much in government offices. Yet I remembered it too late. 

He came back with three copies of the affidavit and handed it over to me.

"They are very busy to issue receipt now" he said heading to his seat. Another "customers" occupied the seat and got ready to be attended to.

"But I need the receipt" I insisted

"They are busy" he said now with ease "or ..."

"Can I wait?"

"Hmm...you can" 

"Hope it won't take..."

"OK you have to sit and wait for me to attend to this man" he said.

I sat balling my eyes round, with optimism of having a receipt or my money. Either of them, or I know I was duped by a commissioner of oath. Scaling through the affidavit, I clearly OR may I use the right word burly saw SERVICE FEE= #50. 

"Hello sir, I paid #1750  why am I seeing #50 here?" I asked and every one in the room fall out in laughter. And such laughter made me know yes this is Nigeria where everything runs the other way rather than this way. The older woman whispered to me ' this is the normal thing, it is done in every court, he even collected so little from you'

And I argued much, insisting that I should be issued my receipt or  balance. 

"Is that what you're still waiting for?" He still asked, with his eyes on me. Practically he was telling me, little boy go, you don't know anything.

"Oga please my change or receipt" I still insist. 

Now everyone including mum was pleading me to go. 'That's same everywhere'

"Don't worry boy, you're still reading and you will come out to see what we are seeing" he said gently and concentrated back on the system. 

The same woman still whispered to me. 'Here is court and they all are one, and he can even deny you didn't give him that amount'

I was now convinced that my money is stolen with no evidence to trace it.

My voice was up as I walked out of the office on mums order. Men is high suit was outside when I approach with my high voice of a powerless victim of theft.

"Actually he stole my money. Why should he wrote #50 and collect #1750 and still  refuse to issue me receipt or balance"

I was expecting help, but I received smiles from them. Where should I report to? Whom shall I tell. The complaints department works with the thief that stole my money. Can the ombudsman man handle my case diligently? So sad My money went Missing in the office of commissioner of oath, High court Awka.

Next u are going for an affidavit, I think you should go with video camera so you can have enough evidence that you gave them money. Request for receipt immediately you pay the amount he asked. Argue that the money should be #50. Don't pay more than that otherwise you loss your money like me.

On my way preparing to graduate from school and heed back to reclaim my stolen money from one commissioner of oath. My evidence already near by waiting for my graduation

Still me Ben, a helpless victim of theft seeking if my voice could be heard at all.