There is growing tension at the popular drug market in Onitsha, Anambra State, after a trader reportedly sent his apprentice packing upon discovering ₦72 million in the young man’s bank account.
According to sources within the market, the apprentice, who has reportedly served four years and has two years left before his settlement, was asked to leave his boss’s shop after the discovery.
Market sources said the trader decided to check the apprentice’s account following reports of a past incident in which an apprentice allegedly attacked his boss after a dispute over money. Acting on suspicion, the trader was said to have reviewed his apprentice’s financial status and was shocked to find a balance of ₦72 million.
When confronted, the apprentice reportedly claimed the funds were proceeds from side businesses and personal ventures he coordinated outside shop hours. However, the trader allegedly questioned how the young man accumulated such a large sum while still under apprenticeship.
Unconfirmed reports circulating in the market allege that the apprentice recently purchased a high-end smartphone and opened a salon business for his girlfriend, further fueling speculation about his financial activities.
Sources say the trader, angered by the development, has refused to complete the traditional settlement process. He reportedly asked the apprentice to leave immediately and allegedly demanded that ₦20 million be returned, allowing the young man to keep the remaining ₦52 million.
