As I write this I am destitute. I am a third-year law student at the University of Jos, Nigeria. The university went on break in May and I had to look for a job to survive. In case you are wondering why I didn’t go home, it is because of my family. I come from a family of twelve. Sadly, my mum passed and my father refuses to play his role as a father in our lives. All we have is our elder sister. She is the backbone of the family. She has been the one person sponsoring me and my siblings. Apart from her, there are nine of us depending on her so you can imagine the pressure......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
I know the burden she carries on herself is heavy. That’s why when school went on break, I didn’t want to go home and be another mouth for her to feed. Besides, the cost of transportation to the house was something I couldn’t afford. I figured I would rather use that money to get foodstuff and a few essentials while I waited for school to resume. I also knew I had to make money somehow to ease my family’s burden. So I embarked on a job hunt.
In my search, I came across a lawyer who runs an agency at Tafawa Balewa Jos. It was a woman I knew who introduced me to him. I was happy I got such an opportunity to work for a lawyer, considering that I am a law student. “This is great,” I thought, “I get to learn how to practice law and earn something to keep me afloat.”
On the day of the interview, he plainly told me, “I am hiring you because I like you. You seem like an interesting person. It’s not because you are qualified for the job. You are still in school so don’t know much.” I took everything in good faith. Whatever his reasons were, all that mattered was that he was willing to offer me the job. That was what I was grateful for.
On day two of the job, he started asking me personal questions. I didn’t think it was a big deal. After all, I was supposed to be his personal assistant. He had already given me his office keys without asking for a guarantor first. So I figured he wanted to know more about me as a professional interest. However, the questions went beyond my family life. That was when I started feeling uneasy. I mean, why would an employer ask his employee, “Who is your boyfriend?” When I said I didn’t have anyone he asked, “I hear girls your age date men so they would help them through school. So how are you coping without one?”
As uncomfortable as it was for me to answer these questions, I didn’t want to be rude. So I told him I had the support of friends and church members. It wasn’t entirely the truth but it would at least get him off my back. I didn’t want to reveal too much of my financial and family situation to him. I had already told him enough for him to know that I needed the job to help me deal with expenses. I mean, why else does anyone need to work if not to keep up with living expenses?
I thought we were done with all that until he called me to his office another time. He started asking me the same questions. It was all about relationship life. I still maintained my stand that I was single. Then he said, “This one that you are saying you don’t have a boyfriend, it shouldn’t be that when I start now-,” he didn’t finish his sentence before a call came through. “Hold on, I have to take this but we will continue this conversation later.”
At that point, I knew something was up. So I was prepared to handle him the next time he would try to continue the conversation. I even planned to record the conversation so I could play it to a friend and ask for her opinion.
As suspected, the next time he raised the topic he was more direct. He asked, “So right now if someone likes you and he wants to have a good time with you, will you agree? It won’t affect your job but you will have extra income.” I was reluctant to respond so he asked me to sleep on it and give him an answer the next day.
I thought about everything and sought my friend’s opinion on the subject. We both agreed that it was a bad idea. My boss hadn’t mentioned whom he wanted me to have this affair with but I am mature enough to deduce that he meant himself. So the next morning, I let him understand that I wouldn’t be able to do what he wanted. I then offered to return his keys and quit the job if it would be a problem.
He was not upset. He calmly responded, “There’s no need for you to quit your job. All those questions were just a test.” I believed him. I was only relieved that I hadn’t lost my opportunity to earn a salary. What I didn’t anticipate was the sudden change in his behaviour.
After that conversation, he started getting angry at me at the slightest inconvenience. He became verbally abusive. One time this man sent me to buy biscuits for him it was raining. I didn’t have an umbrella but I went. Whatever he threw at me, I took it.
I was prepared to earn a living in an honest way. That was until the month ended and he didn’t pay me. According to him, “I am supposed to pay you on 13th June and not at the end of the month.” I said okay and continued working. When the due date arrived, he still didn’t pay me. When I complained, he started harassing me. So I quit.
I have been dragging this issue with him since that time. But my money has not been paid. He feels like I don’t have backing so he wants to cheat me. This is where I need help. All I am trying is to survive but I am being cheated. I need legal counsel. What do I do to get my money back?