My father-in-law offered me ₦2 million to lie in court

I was 34, still a magistrate clerk in Ikeja. My father-in-law, a big man in the community, had a land case pending. He came to my house one evening with a bag. Inside was ₦2 million cash. He said, 'Just make sure the case goes our way.'

I looked at the money. That was more than my annual salary. My wife was pregnant. Rent was due. But I told him, 'Papa, I cannot do this.' He laughed and said I was a foolish boy. The next morning, my wife's family started calling me a traitor. My wife cried for days. We nearly lost the marriage.

I did not take the money. The case went to court and the truth came out. My father-in-law lost. But he respected me after that. He died two years later, and before he died, he called me and said, 'You were the only honest one.' Sometimes doing right costs you everything. But God knows.