I Do Not Come to You by Chance

I Do Not Come to You by Chance follows Kingsley Ibe, a recent engineering graduate who is lured by his charismatic uncle into a lucrative network of e-mail scams. Despite being raised by a pious, England-educated civil servant father, Kingsley gradually surrenders to a life of crime to provide for his family and care for his dying father, as detailed in SuperSummary. The story explores the inner workings of Nigerian 419 scam operations and the motivations of the people behind them.

The book provides a critical examination of the moral contradictions within contemporary Nigeria, highlighting the financial and ethical convolutions of the developing world according to Kirkus Reviews. Nwaubani uses the 419 business to depict the interaction between larger-than-life scammers and greedy Westerners, often employing a satirical tone. This provocative look at unsolicited e-mail scams underscores the tension between professional education and the systemic pressures that lead to greed, as noted by James Yékú.

Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani is a Nigerian novelist, journalist, humorist, and essayist born in 1976 in Enugu, Nigeria. According to Pulitzer Center, she is the first contemporary African writer to launch a global career while remaining fully domiciled in her home country. Based in Abuja and London, Nwaubani has received various accolades, including the 2018 Raven Award.