Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 14
I was summoned by the D.P.O after three days
on return from the Military Barracks in Enugu, I
was wearing only Boxers. I stood before him
trembling out of cold and fear of the unknown; I
had slept on bare floor without any covering all
night.
Soldier man! Are you ready to confess now? He
bellowed
Sir! I have told you the whole truth! God is my
witness; I said
Hmm, my friend, if you know the gravity of your
offence, you would say the truth! Say the truth
now so that I can help you now that you are still
here, the earlier you did that, the better for all of
us! He said.
Oga! Do you want me to implicate myself? I
asked
Are you not implicated already! He shouted; look
at this mumu o! You claimed you bought a stolen
car! Is that not implicating already.
Okay sir! But what about the Man that sold the
Car to me? Have you gotten him? He is the best
place to help with your investigation! I am just a
victim of circumstance! Oga please help me I
beg you! I pleaded.
Look! Soldier boy; heaven help those who help
themselves, he said; the so called Mr. Chike has
run away! His Shop is closed down and empty
and none of the traders are willing to disclose
his where- about to the Police. We went to his
house and the Land lord said he had relocated to
an unknown destination! So do you want us to
do? To perform magic?
Jesu Christi o! I shouted; I am done for! Oga I
am dead! The only link to my freedom has run
away and the Police cannot do anything about it!
Ha! Oga what becomes of me sir?
You are the only Suspect available, and most
likely you will bear the consequence of your
crime! He said firmly.
My crime? What crime did I commit? I did not
steal the Car; I did not rob or kill anybody! Oga I
am not a criminal o! Please save me; I pleaded.
Buying a stolen Car is a crime in Nigeria, you are
as guilty as the thief himself, even if we
apprehend Chike now, you still have a case to
answer because you should have investigated the
source of the car you were buying, if it was a
Tokunbo car you would see the Papers, if it was
second hand, then you would request to see the
real owner and get a transfer of ownership letter
from him! You did not do either of these,
because you wear Army uniform you think you
are above the law! He explained.
But Oga I never knew it was a stolen Car! I
never knew! I pleaded.
Ignorance of the law is not an excuse Soldier
Boy! You should have investigated the source of
the Car! Perhaps if you had tried registering the
Car, you would have been told of the necessary
documents to get especially the transfer of
ownership letter, but you never did! You think you
are above the law! He repeated.
A green fly buzzed in and perched on rim of the
glass of water on his table, this irritated him and
he stared at the fly with obvious anger, then he
looked at me; did you poo on your body again?
He asked.
No sir! I replied.
Did you mess? He asked.
No sir! I did not fart sir!
He slapped the fly but it flew away, monster had
put his weight in the slap and the table was
pushed backwards spilling the contents on it to
the floor.
I hate flies! I hate flies! Especially these green
ones! Or has a Rat died here again? Constable!
He shouted.
A young Police Boy ran into the Office.
Get a long broom quickly! Monster commanded.
The Boy dashed out of the Office.
Monster took a newspaper from the documents
that fell on the floor, he folded it into half and he
began to chase the green fly about the Office.
I will kill you today! He swore under his breath as
he bounced after the terrified fly, his belly
drooping over his trouser as he moved, he
smashed at the fly but missed again and again.
The fly always moved before his thrusts get to if,
he was sloppy and sluggish and this infuriated
him the more.
The young Police lad came with a broom.
Kill it! Monster commanded; it must not escape
o! This is not an ordinary fly o! This fly was sent
from my Village! They sent it to come and
poison me! It was trying to poison my drink
again! Soldier boy! Did you not see that fly trying
to poo something inside my cup of water? He
asked.
I saw it sir! I saw it! I said.
The young Police killed the fly with one swift
swoop.
Pick it up! Go and burn it! Burn it o! He warned.
Enemies! They cannot get me! I will kill them all
one by one! If they like let them come at me in
the form of Tortoise! Or Cockroach! Old boy!
Come and clean up this Office he said to the
Police Lad as he went to cremate the fly. Also
call me the O.C of this Soldiers case!
Yes sir! The Police lad replied as he closed the
door.
Soldier Boy! He continued with me, as he dabbed
his face with a dirty hand towel, he was sweating
from the activity he just indulged in; he was
panting and trying to catch his breath.
The family you robbed has taken the case to the
Court already so you should be ready for a long
legal battle. The Konwea family is a very
powerful one in Asaba so you will need a very
good lawyer! He said.
Oga! Where do I get a lawyer from? Where is the
money? I asked
You no get family? He asked
I only have a Mother that is as poor as a Church
rat! Sir, I was on my way to the Village to rescue
my mother from the clutches of servitude that
has held her since I was born by bringing her to
stay with me in Enugu! I have even rented a
Shop for her. Oga I did not know my Father! In
fact my story is not a good one, all I have in this
world is my mother!
What of extended family members? He asked
I simply shook my head and heaved a sad sigh.
How do I explain to him that my extended family
is as good as not existing, do I call on my
Mother’s family? They had cut us off as lepers.
My Father’s family is more wretched than me
and my Mum, a family of drunks and loafers!
Indeed I am an unfortunate Child in an
unfortunate situation.
On the other hand, he said; the state can provide
you with a lawyer, but they will need money from
you so try to contact your people.
Another green fly flew into the Office and
perched at the same spot the first fly perched.
Another one! Monster shouted; his eyes shot out
as if to leave their sockets, he stepped
backwards from the table. Soldier boy! Can you
see it? That fly did not die o! It has come back!
Just then, the Constable entered the office with
a dirt packer, a mop stick and a broom.
Constable! Did you burn that fly you killed here
just now? Monster asked
No sir! I could not get matches so I simply threw
it away
You threw what away? Did I tell you to throw it
away? Did you think that was a common fly?
Simple instruction you cannot follow. Look! Look!
The fly is back to the same spot it came before!
Monster was visibly agitated and scared.
The Constable once again killed the fly with a
single swoop of the broom , as the dead fly fell
to the ground, monster stepped on it and crushed
it into shreds while swearing and cursing.
Oga I think a rat might have died in this office,
the young constable said; I can perceive the
smell of something decaying. He went to the
edge of the Office and shifted a Cabinet from
the wall, there; he saw a decaying rat filled with
maggots.
Here it is sir! Constable said: it is a dead rat!
Oh! So na common rat? Monster asked laughing
out loud.
The O.C of the case came in.
Sergeant Godwin, take your man back to his cell
and prepare him for Court next tomorrow, he
would need a state lawyer and he would need
new clothes, he cannot go to a civil court in his
Army uniform, get any of the condemned
criminals clothes for him to wear.
Sergeant Godwin ushered back to my cell. That
was the beginning of my long journey in
incarceration.
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