Post by Onyinye Okoh (@Deekreative)

EPISODE 2
Funke was still shouting on the phone from Dubai.

"Kemi! Answer me! Did you report us to the police?"

I stood up from my bed. My legs were shaking. I walked to Maya's room and opened the door small.

Maya was not sleeping. She was sitting on her bed. Her tablet light was on her face. She had many tabs open. She did not look like a scared child. She looked like a big woman doing office work.

"Maya," I said softly, "What did you do? Did you do something to Aunty Funke?"

She looked at me and said, "Mummy, come and sit."

I sat on her bed. My phone was still on. Funke was still crying on the line.

Maya spoke in simple words.

"Mummy, you told me Aunty Funke's name was on your account. So I asked Google, 'What can a second person do with bank account?' Google said the bank must help the real owner if there is fraud."

She showed me her tablet.

"On day one, while you were crying on the kitchen floor, I took a photo of your bank alert with my tablet. It showed the Dubai account number."

"On day two, Aunty Funke posted a video on Instagram. She was dancing in the hotel. Behind her, I saw the hotel name on the towel: _Grand Deira Hotel_. She also posted Chidioke's face. I searched his name on Facebook. His full name is *Chidioke Obi*. He wrote on Facebook: 'I help people double their money with crypto.' Many people in the comments said, 'Thief! Give me my money!'"

My mouth opened. I could not talk.

"So I did three things, Mummy. You always say, 'Maya, write everything down.' So I wrote everything down."

She counted with her fingers.

"One: I went to the *EFCC website*. There is a place to report fraud. I wrote: 'My name is Maya Adeyemi. I am 9 years old. My aunty stole ₦150 million from my mummy and ran to Dubai with her boyfriend.' I added the photos."

"Two: I sent an email to the hotel in Dubai. I found their email on Google. I wrote: 'Dear Sir, your guest Funke Adeyemi is wanted in Nigeria for stealing money. Please check well before she runs away.' I added her Instagram photo."

"Three: I sent a message to GTB on Twitter. I wrote: 'Please help my mummy. Someone stole her money to Dubai.' Many people liked it and shared it."

I was just looking at her. My 9-year-old daughter.

On the phone, Funke shouted again, "Kemi! The hotel manager just came! He said EFCC Nigeria sent them a letter! He said our account is now blocked for money laundering! Chidioke wants to beat me! He said I lied to him!"

Maya took my phone gently.

"Aunty Funke," she said in her small voice, "This is Maya. You took my school fees to go and drink champagne in Dubai. Mummy was crying on the floor. Did you feel good?"

There was silence from Dubai. Then Funke started to cry again, but this time it was quiet.

"Kemi... please tell them it was a mistake... I will pay back..."

I took the phone back. My hand was no longer shaking.

"Funke, you told me not to call you because it is too costly. Now you are calling me by 2am. Don't worry, the call is on me."

I cut the call.

The next morning, GTB called me.

"Madam Adeyemi, good morning. Because of the many reports and the EFCC flag, our partner bank in Dubai has *frozen the ₦150 million*. The money cannot move. It will come back to Nigeria after investigation."

I dropped the phone and hugged Maya tight.

"Mummy," she said, "You told me to always be brave. So I was brave for you."

For the first time in three days, I smiled real smile.

But then my mother called. She was angry.

"Kemi! What have you done to your sister? Funke said you want to put her in prison in Dubai! Are you not a Christian? Forgive her!"

I looked at Maya. Maya shook her head small.

And I knew the fight was not over. The money was frozen, but Funke was still my sister. And my parents were still on her side.
Should I forgive Funke?

*To be continued.

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