Mr. Olundare jacobs felt a pang of guilt as
he stepped out of the blackmaria. As a kid
who was brought up in the barracks, he
used to see many criminals being
transported in that van to the prison and
he would always say “why would
someone waste his life in criminal
activities when he knows fully well that
one day, he would be transported in this
dark, poor ventilated van whose only route
is from court to prison, prison to court?
Surely, i would never step my feet in those
vans”. How would he have known that
25years later, he would be the one inside
the van? Well, as a child he didn’t know
that someday he was going to point a gun
at his wife.
The thought of his wife made tears to
drop from his eyes. Their relationship was
the type only obtainable in movies and
romance stories. He remembered vividly
how she married him despite pressure
from her family to marry the promising
soldier officer Paul Adeyemi. He was just
an odinary civil servant back then in the
lagos state ministry of information and
communication. He had met the beautiful
miss grace briggs when she was posted
to the ministry as a youth corper. He never
used to believe in love at first sight but
grace changed his perception, not only
about love but life in its entirety. Mr. Jacobs
doesn’t even know the part of her body he
loves the most. Was it her radiant hair
which is as black as Taye Taiwo’s face or
her lips which was wonderfully placed on
her face just below her pointed but
beautiful nose. He doesn’t even know If it
was her shiny eyes that could give the
stars a run for their money or her fair skin
which sparkles in sunlight. In jacobs own
words “grace, even monalisa would be
jealous of you”.
Back then, he would always use his
meagre salary to take her out for lunch
until immediately after she completed her
youth service when they decided to tie the
nuptial knots. It only took the effect of the
scorching sun to bring him out from his
journey through the land of emotional el
dorado. He had just stepped out of the
van. He was standing taller and well built
than the two policemen who where
escorting him. He was very dark, infact his
mates in university used to call him blacky
which is one of the reasons he married
someone who would complement him. His
hairs were unkept, what do you expect
from someone who was just coming out
of a police cell?
Even though he has not been proven guilty
of any crime, he has been sleeping in the
police cell for over a month. The law
stipulates that no citizen should spend
more than 24hours in police custody
except sentenced by a law court but it
seems the law and the police force are
enemies. Its ironic since the police are
supposed to protect the law. He looked at
his environment, it was like every other
typical trial court in nigeria. He took a deep
breathe but just as he was about to enter
the court, he sighted paul Adeyemi. He just
shook his head and walked into the court
room.
EPISODE 2
Court rise!!!” The bailiff shouted and
everybody stood up. Justice clement okoro
walked into the court room. He was an old
man who was probably close to
retirement. If you place his age anywhere
around 70years, you just might be right
because he actually looks younger anytime
he smiles and older when he frowns.
Today was one of his bad days as he was
not smiling. His facial expression could be
read in a thousand different ways but mr.
Jacobs read it as, “Am tired of this job,
always sentencing people to death”. Truly,
Justice Okoro had sentenced countless
people to death so when jacobs saw him,
he knew his freedom was just wishful
thinking.
The case was announced by the court
administrator who also announced the
presence of all the witnesses.
“The case before this court is a murder
case filed by the nigeria police force
against Mr. Olundare jacobs” he carefully
read.
“Mr olundare jacobs, what is your plea?
Are you guilty or not?” the judge asked.
“Not guilty” Jacobs answered non-
chalantly.
I just hope he is right, i cant afford to slam
a ‘life imprisonement’ sentence. Justice
Okoro kept his thoughts to himself. He
called on the prosecutor for his opening
statement.
A fairly old man stood up. Looking at his
face, you’ll think he is a septagenerian but
he’s just in his early fifties. If you say he
was old due to his family problems, you
probabaly would be right because his only
daughter chose to marry someone whom
he had no iota of trust for. Despite his
disaproval, she still went ahead to marry
him. Your guess is as good as mine, his
name is Barrister Jim Briggs, father of Mrs
grace jacobs whose death, they stand in
court today to find the culprit.
“mmm mmmm.. .Barrister Briggs cleared
his throat.
Fellow citizens of this nation, we are here
today the 21st of october 2013 to prove
that Mr. Olundare Jacobs standing here is
responsible for the death of his wife, Mrs.
Grace Jacobs”.
He hates calling his daughter Grace Jacobs,
he rather prefers to call her Grace Briggs
but for the sake of the court, he called her
the name. He allowed the information he
just dropped to sink into the ears of his
audience before he continued.
“On the 15th of august 2013 at about
10:30pm, Mr. Olundare Jacobs allegedly
shot and killed his wife. Such people
should not be allowed to walk in the
soceity as they are bad eggs that can
currupt the good ones. I hereby pray this
court to serve justice in this case. This is
my case”. He bowed and left for his seat.
Justice okoro smiled and called on the
defendant. He had known Barrister Briggs
to be a man that doesn’t beat around the
bush. He always makes his points brief but
very strong.
The defendant was a young lawyer
probably in his early thirties. His name is
Barrister Clement Obong. He was a light
complexioned young man with a well
trimmed moustache. He fell in the category
of people that were created on God’s bad
day. He was a very ‘brief creature’. That
was the term his clique in the University
used to refer to his shortness. Olundare
jacobs who happens to be the accused
was also a member of that clique. He got
up and looked at Barrister Briggs, he then
gave a deadly smile. He had history with
Barrister Briggs.
Immediately after being called to bar, the
young lawyer Clement Obong had gone
into Barrister Briggs Firm to work as a
lawyer in the firm but he was turned
down. He can still remember Barrister
Briggs exact words to him.
“young man, this is not a chamber for
jokers with wig on the head, this is a
chamber for real lawyers”.
Barrister clement obong has a point to
prove. To show that he is not a joker with
wigs on the head but a real lawyer. He
arranged his wig and stepped forward
EPISODE 3
“My lord, barrister clement started. This
case as convincing as it might look is a
mere case of slander against my client.
1. The case holds no water as contrary to
their claims that my client shot and killed
his wife, there is no autopsy report to
back that claim. Infact the body of the
victim is nowhere to be found.
2. My client, Mr Olundare Jacobs, after
thorough scrutiny by members of his
community was chosen along with few
men in his community to save lives. He is a
member of the vigilante group in his
community so i see no reason why he
should take the life of his wife.
Homicide is a very strong accusation and i
dont expect the testimony of one man to
hold weight. I hereby pray this court to
strike out this case in the name of justice”
he concluded his statement.
“once a joker, always a joker” Barrister
Briggs muttered under his breathe. He
doesn’t have time to show his swagg, he
just had to make sure his daughter’s killer
was sent behind bars else he would have
showed Barrister clement that the SAN at
the end of his name isn’t just a mere fuss.
“can we have the first witness please”
justice okoro spoke to Barrister Briggs.
“The first witness is Paul Adeyemi. If you
are here please come forward” Barrister
briggs called him forward.
A youngman in the same age bracket as
jacobs stood up. He was also very dark. It
seems as if his occupation made him
stand under the scorching sun everyday.
He was tall and well built.
***************************
15th August 2013
Lagos State ministry of information and
communication organized a dinner night.
Mrs. Grace Jacobs being a fluent speaker of
english was chosen to be the anchor of
the programme. As early as 3:00pm that
day, she was already dressed up and was
about to go to the event when her
husband, Olundare Jacobs came in. Jacobs
has been unlucky as a retrenchment
programme of the state government had
caught up with him. Since then, he had
failed to find himself a job so he was
always at home, coupled with the fact that
he had become a vigilante.
“Miss universe. Jacobs complemented his
wife and she just smiled.
Where are you going dressed like this?”
“Darling, you remember that dinner night i
told you about? She paused, waiting for an
answer. Jacobs nodded his head to signify
that he remembered.
The dinner night is slated for today”. She
concluded.
“Thought you just called it a dinner night,
what kind of dinner night starts by
3:00pm” he asked, looking at his wrist
watch.
“You know this is my first time of
anchoring this kind of event, the chairman
of the central planning committee
requested that i should be there by
3:00pm so he can fill me in on how to
proceed with the event. I’m even late” she
narrated.
“so i guess i will just be the only one in
this house. Just make sure you dont move
your lips in those your sexy manner, those
men can be funny atimes”
“i promise, i wont even smile” she said and
laughed away.
10:20PM THAT SAME DAY
Grace walked into the house tired. The
dinner night was a huge success and
everybody attributed the success to her.
She even switched off her phone when
the congratulatory calls where getting too
much.
She trew her bag on the couch and was
about going into the bedroom when the
voice of her husband startled her.
“Where are you coming from?” he asked.
She switched on the light to behold her
husband holding a gun. She was shocked
but then, she remembered that armed
robbers had been giving them sleepless
nights in the street so she thought her
husband being a vigilante had chased
armed robbers that day.
“what are you talking about? I told you i
was attending a dinner night”
“Dinner night!! So which of the directors
did you sleep with or was it the
commisioner himself?” Jacobs accused.
“I dont have time for this, am very tired”
grace said and was about going into the
bedroom when her husband spoke.
“Dont even take another step”.
She turned back and saw her husband
pointing a gun at her. She was shocked.
Her husband had never laid a finger on
her not to talk of pointing a gun at her.
Yes he had lost his Job but that doesn’t
mean he has lost his mind.
“I was in that establishment before you. I
know how it is done. Those big men
choose people to spend the night with. I
gave you the benefit of doubt but you
failed me”
What are you talking about, i never slept
with anyone” Grace shouted.
“Put the gun down” a voice spoke. They
both turned their heads and saw Paul
Adeyemi, pointing a gun at Jacobs.
“We can settle this without…. Kpaa” Grace
was trying to complete her statement but
she was shot. She fell down to the ground.
Episode 4
Paul Adeyemi stood inside the dock, a
bible was brought since he was a christain
and he took an oath placing his hand on
the bible.
I, paul Adeyemi do swear that the evidence
i shall give shall be the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth. So help
me God.
Barrister Briggs walked up to the witness.
“how are you doing Mr.paul?” he asked
him.
“Am fine thank you” paul replied.
“oh, i can see you are really fine. So i was
told you were the one who alerted the
police and paramedics about the incident
at the house of Mr. Jacobs. As a first hand
witness, what really happened?” he asked.
“I was going to my house that faithful day,
and i decided to branch jacobs house.
When i got there, i saw him pointing a gun
at his wife but before i could make any
move he shot her” paul explained.
“And what evidence do you have of this
claim” barrister briggs asked.
“A picture. I took a snapshot of jacobs
pointing a gun at his wife” he replied.
Barrister Briggs turned and walked back
to his table while still talking.
“At this juncture, i’ll like to present my first
evidence” he brought out a picture.
Exhibit1 was bodly written at the back. In
this photo, jacobs can be seen pointing a
gun at his wife. He passed the picture to
the court administrator who passed it to
the judge. The picture was enhanced
using a projector for the whole court to
see. Barrister Briggs then turned and
faced paul.
“Do you know of any reason why Mr.
Jacobs could kill his wife?” he asked.
“He is a lost Man, he lost his job while his
wife still has hers, thats why he is
transferring his anger to the wife” paul
answered.
“Thank you mr. Paul, you have been very
helpfull” Barrister Briggs said,he turned to
the judge
“i rest my case”he said and walked to his
seat.PAUSE!!!!! hmmm... what's going through your mind right now?? chill at least a little... take a break from the suspense.. so, now Paul Adeyemi is being accused... hmmm... well, that's his business, let me do mine... #clears_throat... Incase you don't know this you're currently on the official website of Olumide, yea you're on my website ;)
So, now let's go to the next partEPISODE 5The judge turned to Barrister clement
“would you like to cross-examine the
witness?”
“Yes my lord” he said and stood up.
Mr.paul can you please tell the court the
kind of relationship you have with the
jacobs family?
“objection my lord, the question is
irrelevant to this case” Barrister briggs
shouted.
“objection overuled” the judge came to the
rescue.
Go on barrister.
“So, Mr. Paul, whats your relationship with
the jacobs”.
“I’m a family friend and am very close to
the couple” he replied.
“Any proof? Perhaps group pictures, or
text messages. Do you even even have
their phone number?”.
Paul thought of his next answer before
answering.
“No”
“Good, so it has been established that you
are not so close to the family, so what took
you to their house at about past 10 in the
night?”
“like i said, i was passing and i decided to
check on them” paul replied.
“Okay, so correct me if am wrong. You
went into the house, you saw Jacobs
pointing a gun at his wife and instead of
saving her you decided to snap pictures?”
Barrister clement asked.
“i needed the pictures for evidence” paul
replied.
“Evidence? So you planned on uploading it
on facebook? There was laughter in the
court and when they were finally brought
to Order, Barrister clement continued.
Forgive me Mr. Paul, but i just want to
know, do you have any personal vendetta
against Mr. Jacobs?
“No” paul answered.
Barrister clement went to his bag and
brought out a white paper. He showed
paul.
“Is this your signature” he asked.
“looks like it but signatures can be forged”
paul answered.
“Dont worry about that. Few years back
you asked for the deceased hands in
marriage but she refused and you
threatened her that if you do not get her
then nobody else will. This is the statement
she wrote in the police station. It only took
the intervention of your boss in the army
for you to sign” Barrister clement passed
the paper to the court administrator. He
then faced the judge
“i rest my case” he said and went back to
his seat.
Even Justice okoro was impressed. He
faced Barrister Briggs
“any other witness”.
“yes, my lord, i would like to question the
accused” Barrister Briggs said.
“Mr. Jacobs, i would like you to give me
straight forward answers to this my few
questions and please be audible” Barrister
Briggs advised.
“Did you kill your wife?”
Jacobs was shocked. He had expected
barrister Briggs to start from the light
questions but he just went straight to the
point.
“Answer the question young man, did you
kill your wife?” Barrister Briggs was
getting emotional.
“No” Jacobs replies.
“Did you point a gun at your wife? I mean
a loaded gun”.
“No”
The court was shocked, less than five
minutes ago they saw a picture of him
pointing a gun at his wife but here he was
denying the fact.
“Are you saying that picture was photo-
shopped?” Barrister Briggs asked. Do you
know the reppercusion if you lie to this
court?”
“Objection my lord, he is pressing my clent
to admit to a crime he didn’t commit”
Barrister clement shouted
“Objection overuled, you may proceed
barrister” justice Okoro shouted.
“So you are saying the picture was photo-
shopped”
“No, am saying the gun i pointed at my
wife wasn’t loaded, it was empty. Infact, as
a vigilante, we always submit our bullets to
our commander. We only collect the bullets
in times of emergency”
“so you are saying, you didn’t kill your
wife, who killed her then? Barrister Briggs
asked.
Jacobs took a deap breathe and then
spoke.
“Paul Adeyemi”
EPISODE 6
The whole court was shocked by jacobs’
revelation. The whole case was taking a
new dimension.
“Do you know how preposterous your
accusation sound? You mean he shot your
wife and you just stood there?” Barrister
Briggs asked.
“Immediately he killed my wife, he charged
at me and hit me with his gun and i
became unconcious” Jacobs narrated
“I see.
Your counselor just said Mr.paul has a
personal vendetta against you so why
didn’t he kill you? I mean, you are the only
thing standing between him and Grace
according to your lawyer, so why did he
choose to kill Grace instead of you?”
“I don’t know” jacobs replied.
“you also said all bullets are submitted to
your commandant untill during
emergencies but according to reports
there was an armed robbery attack that
night which means you were with bullet
so how about the truth? How did you feel
when you killed my daughter?”
“Objection my lord, false charge!! My client
has not been proven guilty” barrister
Clement shouted
“Objection sustained, Barrister lets wait till
that is proven”. Justice Okoro said.
“i rest my case” barrister Briggs said. He
brought out a white hankerchief from his
pocket and used it to wipe the already
forming tears in his eyes. He sniffed
inaudibly and went back to his seat.
Whispers of eyaa, kai and the likes, were
heard in the crowd.
“Would you like to cross-examine him?”
Justice Okoro asked Barrister Clement.
“No, your honour.” he replied.
The judge turned to Barrister Briggs
“your next witness please” He said.
By this time, Barrister Briggs has already
regained composure.
He stood up and called.
“Mr. Fidelis Ogbu, please come out”
A middle aged man who was probably just
a few centimetres fatter than the ‘letter I’
came out. He went straight into the dock.
“Mr. Fedelis, what kind of relationship do
you have with Mr. Jacobs?” Barrister
Briggs asked.
“Ah!! Na my paddy o, na me with am the
follow drink for junction. Infact ehm, e dey
even carry me go him house, madam go
come cook better food for us. Kai, madam
na good woman o” fidelis spoke.
“so were you with Jacobs on the day of
the incident?”
“yesso, na me with am been drink that day
sef. E call me around past 3 say make we
go drink. As we come the drink na, him
come tell me say e go kill him wife today. I
think say na play him the play o. Around
past 4 we come drink finish. By then, my
friend don drink 5bottles. I come leave am
go my house o, na the next day naim i
come hear say e don kill him wife” fidelis
narrated.
“Why did he talk about killing his wife”
“him say as him wife the go work say she
the follow men for office, say him go kill
her.
“thank you mr. Fidelis” barrister Briggs
said and walked back to his seat.
“Would you like to cross-examine the
witness?” Justice Okoro asked Barrister
Clement.
“Yes, your honour” Barrister clement said
and stood up. He opened his bag and
brought out three pictures.
“Mr. Fidelis, you claimed to have seen Grace
right?” Barrister clement asked.
“oga lawyer i don see the woman plenty
times, my friend the carry me go him
house” fidelis explained.
“Good, so which of this three pictures is
grace’s picture” he asked and gave the
three pictures to Fidelis to choose.
After carefull observation, Fidelis chose
one and gave to Barrister clement.
“Are you sure?” Clement asked.
“oga na she be that” Fidelis replied.
Barrister clement then showed the picture
to the judge. The picture was once again
enhanced.
“According to our ‘self acclaimed’ friend of
Mr. Jacobs, this is Mrs. Grace. But i tell you
what, this is the picture of Genevieve Nnaji.
So our friend here doesn’t even know mrs.
Grace. The question is, are we going to
listen to the testimony of a drunk?
“Objection my lord, the Barrister is using
foul words in the court.
“Objection sustained” Justice Okoro
shouted. Barrister, vulgar words are not
allowed in this court.
“I guess all am trying to say is, even if my
client truly said what Fidelis has accused
him of, then he probably said it under the
influence of alcohol. But there is a
difference of seven hours between past 3
and past 10. So am sure the alcohol must
have cleared from my client’s face even
before his wife came back so he wouldn’t
carry out an action he had said when still
under the influence of alcohol. I rest my
case” Barrister clement concluded.
EPISODE 7
10:45PM 11th AUGUST 2013
The sound of siren blaring in the
atmosphere would give you the
impression that the president of the
federal republic of nigeria was passing,
but why would the president pass
through a slum?
Neighbours had gathered to catch a
glimpse of the ‘VIP’ that was disturbing
their peaceful night rest. They were
shocked to see an ambulance and a police
van parked in front of Mr. Jacobs house.
Mr. Jacobs was a peace lover who was
known by all and sundry. He was one of
the few men who had courageously stood
up and volunteered himself to fight
against the incessant armedrobbery
attacks in the area.
The neighbours couldn’t go close to the
area for fear of police but some few
people were saying that armedrobbers
had attacked the family and shot someone.
It was only when they saw Mr.Jacobs
coming out with handcuffs that they knew
it was more than an armedrobbery attack.
He was bundled into the police van while a
body carried on a stretcher was dropped
inside the ambulance. It was covered with
a white linen.
The Police van drove away while the
Ambulance drove away via a seperate
route. A small car followed the ambulance.
*****************************
“Dr. Amos, please come to the dock”
Barrister clement called out.
A smart looking young man walked to the
dock.
“How are you feeling Dr. Amos?” Barrister
clement asked.
“Like never before” he replied.
“Great! So you were the head of the
medical team that went to the house of Mr.
Jacobs that day. Anything you would want
the court to hear?” Barrister clement
asked.
“As you must have heared, the ambulance
conveying the corpse was involved in a
ghastly accident and it caught fire. Before
then however, i was able to remove the
bullet from the patient’s body” Dr. Amos
explained.
“Oh!! That reminds me” Barrister clement
said and walked to his bag. He brought
out a transparent polyethene bag.
“Inside this leather bag is the bullet that
hit Mrs. Grace.
See, i’m not a millitary personnel so i took
this bullet to the soldier base and i was
told that this is a Soviet 5.45x39mm
millitary grade bullet. The question is,
where would an odinary vigilante get this
kind of bullet? Although am sure a soldier
officer has access to such bullets” he
paused a little bit for his information to
pierce the heart of his listeners.
“Any other thing you would want this
court to hear?” he asked Doctor Amos.
“yes, one more thing. When i was
examining the victim, i discovered the
bullet pierced her at the side of her
abdomen. I dont know if that will help”
“Sure,it will help alot” Barrister clement
said and turned to face the court.
According to Mr.paul, the deceased was
facing her husband who was pointing a
gun at his wife while he walked in
through the door. He was at the left hand
side of Mrs. Grace and the right hand side
of Mr. Jacobs.
Again, i am not a millitary personnel but i
dont know of any bullet that can carry out
a parabolic kind of motion. If my client
truly shot the gun, the bullet would have
pierced the deceased at the Front and not
on the side. I rest my case” he smiled and
went back to his seat.
“Would you like to cross-examine the
witness?” Justice Okoro asked.
“Yes, your honour” Barrister briggs
answered and stood up. He was with a
picture.
“Dr. Amos, please look carefully at this
picture, are your the one in this picture?”
Barrister briggs asked.
Dr. Amos took a brief look at the picture. It
was his graduation party. He snapped
with Barrister clement and Mr. Jacobs.
They all graduated from the same
university.
“yes am the one” Dr. Amos replied.
“So you are friends with Mr. Jacobs?”
“Yes” Dr. Amos replied.
Barrister Briggs then turned and faced the
court.
“As a boy growing up, i knew how
friendship could be. I could do anything
for my friends. How are we sure that Dr.
Amos here is not trying to save his
friend?”
“It is unethical, i can never do such” Dr.
Amos cut in.
“But is there a possibility that someone
can do such a thing?” Barrister Briggs
asked.
“Someone, but definitely not me” Dr. Amos
replied.
“My lord, Dr. Amos just admitted that it is
possible for someone to lie just to cover
up his friend’s act. I hereby rest my case”
he said.
Justice Okoro looked at his wristwatch, the
court session was already taking longer
than he had expected. He decided he was
going to adjourn the case after the next
witness.
“anyother witness? He asked.
“Yes your honour” barrister clement
shouted.
My last witness is Mrs. Grace Jacobs, please
come out”.
The whole court was shocked. Can a ghost
testify?
Barrister clement just looked at Barrister
Briggs and smiled mischievously.
