‘That the SD card, Novak, and the girl never surface again. We can then argue entrapment; but it’s hard to argue the previous month away when you have personally signed over twenty patently sham marriage visa applications. My advice, as your solicitor, is to wait this thing out and see what we can plea bargain, but the reality is you’re finished as a solicitor. I also suspect you will go to jail for a number of years, and you will lose hundreds of thousands of pounds at least. They can look at the last six years of your earnings and income and they will assume it’s all from crime. Don’t forget, my friend, that the burden of proof in proceeds of crime hearings shifts to you. You—not the prosecution—have to prove that all your money and assets are lawful.’

Adebayo sat back in the leather chair and stared at the ceiling, stunned at the reality of the situation. This could amount to millions of pounds. His business was corrupt to the core, and it wouldn’t take a genius to unpick the extent of it. The money laundering teams had forensic accountants who could unravel his accounts and investments, all of which came from his legal practice.

‘What would you do if you were me?’ Adebayo asked.

‘You have many assets in Nigeria, and your home in Lagos is wonderful. You could make a new life there, leave all this behind. You’ll never get extradited from Nigeria, you have far too much influence.’

Adebayo paused. He’d been clever: learning the lesson of another solicitor friend who had been convicted of corruption and lost over a million pounds when the police seized all his assets, he had transferred many assets to Nigeria. There had been an added incentive, with taxation in the UK being so extortionate. Not only that, but the UK’s money laundering regulations also made it more than worth his while to use money-brokers to get his cash into safe investments and property in Lagos.

As a result, he owned a palatial detached property in an upmarket, gated development in Lagos. He also had investments in Nigerian banks and some gold reserves in safe deposit boxes. He could live comfortably forever and never have to face the shame of a criminal trial, jail, and the loss of his UK assets.

‘The police have my passport. I also have many assets in the UK. Will they all be lost?’

‘I’m sure you know someone at the Nigerian Embassy, so a new passport won’t be difficult. The police or Home Office haven’t restrained your bank accounts yet. To be honest, I don’t think it has occurred to them, what with all the issues with Novak. This may be the perfect time to go. Shall I speak to Syed?’