I have a step mother who was being mean to us while we were growing up. The us here means my sister, my cousin brother and I. I happen to be the youngest of all the three, though during holidays friends and cousins do join us to merry.

Being the youngest, I suffered the most “though I was stubborn then”. My dad relatively and truthfully played the role of both a father and a mother. When dad was transferred to a new station, the ‘sufferism/meanness’ was intense.

Nature cheated my dad when death visited him. I didn’t believe it happened; it sounded or looked like a dream up till now, it is more than a decade. Oh death where is your sting.

Nobody wishes to die and so does my dad, so there was no will: the family had to intervene. Sharing our dad properties. Things were done to the best of their knowledge.

There is this particular property that brings the three parties together: a storey building with four flats; 2:1:1 is the sharing ratio among my step mum, sister and I in respective manner.

We had wanted to sale the house about two years ago but halted due to the ill-amount it was priced, after so much deliberation we all agreed it should be sold and buyers came. The property is situated at Iba, Lagos.

At inception, my step mum agreed to 60-40% sharing ratio, we 60 while she 40. She is semi literate, guess she didn’t understand. Something actually came up during the deal only for her to say it cannot be 60-40% but 50-50%. I persuaded her and her agent said she has agreed to 55-45% sharing ratio, we 55 and she 45.

When the buyer was ready to pay, different things started raging war such as, omo onile palava.

The buyer, my agent, my step mother and her agent went to meet omo onile for a new receipt, they said they will collect one huge amount; they ended up paying 30k, to be shared between the seller and buyer. They said the godfather of that area insisted they will have to pay him too, that when dad bought the land, he passed through him. He demanded for 750k, someone intervened; they paid 500k between the two parties. My sister declined at this stage that she’s no longer interested, but the money has been paid to the omo onile.

We have committed ourselves to the selling by giving out agent letter of attorney to go ahead.

The buyer said the outstanding Nepa bill and tenants whose house rents are not due will be removed before doing the payment. At this stage I declined that where is it done, that once you buy something both the asset and liability belong to the new buyer.

By evening, my step mother called me that we she would take responsibility for all the unnecessary bills. The money was paid the following day, the lawyer asked before the payment was done and you can go ahead, I replied.

It remains signing of the document. My step mother and I have signed remaining my sister who is refusing to sign. Her reason is ratio must be 60-40%. Her hubby gave the reasons she’s trying to cut ties with us and she finally dies, the property will be reversed to us.

What am I supposed to do to make her sign dear friends? I am in my early thirty; my sister is just four years older than I do.

Reading....

You people are already thinking about someone's death. Issorait!

Hmm. Interesting. Cant u get her husband to convince her otherwise? Since he has influence on her decisions or get other family members to help advice her.

An agreement was reached initially and money has now been paid. She shouldn't scuttle the deal (shift the goal post during a match) when all the wahala is Almost over