Source : Chat GPT
In a well-organised court hall. Everyone is seated accordingly, and witnesses and soldiers are all waiting for what will happen next once the judge arrives. Murmurs settle into silence as a man, tall and handsome, dressed in black all through steps forward. People presumed him to be the Clark, and of course, that is who he is. He raised his hands, like someone waving to God during the worship session in church.
"All rise! This Honourable Court is now in session. The Honourable Justice MBAOGU UKOH presiding."
Everyone knows that name in this city. Should I say, "Everyone hates that name?" I've heard that name a couple of times during our morning prayer sessions when I was little. I didn't know who he was or what he looked like. But I know that I didn't like him, not because he did anything to me, but because of some stories I heard about him. He once handled a case that involved my uncle and a client, and his father didn't like how he handled it. Father said he let the man go because the man had money. He probably might have given money to get him out of the case. And he did get him out of the case.
I know you might be asking yourself what I'm doing at the court. I'd tell you, just hang on.
"Everyone be seated." Justice Mbaogu says as he sits down.
Everyone sits afterwards. Clark continues his speech,
"The case before the court is Mr Anyawu vs. Chinonso Eze, charged with theft, rape, and criminal breach of trust. All parties are present and represented."
A man stands up immediately, and Clark stops. I perceived him to be the one my brother's master hired to shower everyone with lies and deceit. Yeah, I'm sorry, my brother is the accused, I came to court to represent the family with my father. His master has always been a terrible man, treats my brother like he was born by a whore or a bastard son of my father. Don't get shocked if I tell you, he is my father's immediate younger brother. Father let him take my brother when he promised to train him in school, which he never did. He hired a lawyer who could present his lies in a package way. Isn't that what most lawyers do? They fight and defend whoever gives them what they want. Father tells us that it is part of their profession, I didn't want to believe that at first, but I have seen reasons to do so.
"May it please the court, I am Barrister Nduka Obi representing Mr Anyawu." He said as he stepped forward.
Another man stood up as well. I don't know him, but I've seen his face once. I saw him speak to my father before we left our home to court.
"I am Barrister Sabastine, representing my client who is the defendant, Chinonso Eze."
Everyone turned their attention to the judge, I guess he should speak next. He did, anyway.
"Mr Chinonso Eze, you are charged with embezzlement of your master's properties, Mr Anyawu. And an attempt to rape his wife, Mrs Judith Anyawu. What do you have to say about it? Guilty or not?"
At this point, I looked straight into my brother's eyes, I knew he didn't do it. Everyone knows he didn't do it.
"I am not guilty, My Lord."
Barrister Ndukwe stands up immediately, what everyone expected, anyway.
"My Lord, the case we are talking about is not just about theft and rape, but betrayal and breaking of trust. My client here trusted this boy with everything in him. He made him the Lord over all his properties and affairs, but unfortunately, the ungrateful Mr Chinonso here decided to pay him back with evil.
On the 17th of January, 2025, my client received a complaint from his wife about some missing items my client here made his investigations and discovered that it was true. My client here felt hurt and betrayed, but he just confronted him and warned him never to do it again.
On the 14th of February, which was Valentine's Day celebration, Mr Chinonso smuggled a noticeable amount of goods from the warehouse which after investigations were discovered to be goods he sold to get expensive gifts for his girlfriend. My client out of anger, stripped him of the position of his manager and sent him to the gate as a punishment.
On the 12th of March which was the day he got detained, he attempted raping his master's wife if not for the intervention of the housekeeper. My Lord, we have our evidence for these accusations. I rest my case."
People murmur and go silent at the sound of Barrister Sabastine's voice
"My Lord, may I?"
The judge nods in agreement.
"My Lord, I believe this is not a place for storytelling, but for truths and facts. How possible will it be for a boy who is fed and sheltered by his master to do such a thing? My client here had served his master for years managing his business even before he was made the manager. There has never been a record of theft nor any of the accusations that have been laid upon him now. Please, my Lord, let the accusers provide solid evidence to show that what my client has been accused of is true."
I looked at my father's face, I could read through his expression. He wasn't satisfied with the way Barrister Sabastine made his speech. I heard Father whisper to himself,
"Perhaps he has been bribed as well."
I felt terrible, I knew we were already losing the case.
"Gather your evidence, the prosecutor, and the defendant. We would observe a break now. Court!" Justice Mbaogu says and leaves.
People start going outside. Mr Anyawu, who could not stop smiling, seeing that he was on the winning side, started shaking people and celebrating his victory. My brother needed help. It was obvious that the means of getting the help had failed us. I walked straight to my brother as fast as I could. He turned to me immediately when he saw me coming.
"Hey, man, I didn't do it. I could have never done something like that to Uncle."
"Shuu! I know you didn't. It is going to be fine, brother. " I saw Barrister Sabastine approaching him, and I left immediately. I had my father's small phone with me, I had already planned what to do when I noticed Bar. Sabastine had turned his back on us. I turned on the audio recorder of the phone, moved a bit, and rushed to the barrister crying, I held him tight until I put the phone in his side pocket.
"Please, help my brother, sir. He did not do it." I knelt to make it look real."
"I would help your brother in any way I can. This is a difficult one."
I left him and went back to where my father was seated. I was determined to help my brother out of the case. I went outside and saw my supposed Uncle with his barrister outside. Another idea came up. Don't ask me, just follow me.
I went back to my father. "Father, could you do something for me?"
Father looked at me. He refused at first, but he did it.
The judge returned after an hour and ordered the case to resume.
"Do we have evidence?"
"Yes, my lord." Barrister Nduka steps forward.
"This is CCTV footage of when he was carrying the properties to sell."
My brother could not hold himself again. He burst out in anger.
"This is a big lie! I did not do it! Madam was the one who instructed me to move these items for her, which I did. He assured me that my uncle was aware of it. These items were moved under Madam's command. She wanted me to be her partner in crime, and I refused. She framed me up so that I would not expose her! I did not do it, and you all know that I did not!"
The judge shouted, "Barrister Sabastine! Hold your client! Hold him now! This is a law court!"
I looked into their eyes, all of them. All I could see in their faces was conspiracy, I could see people who had sworn to live in bribery and corruption.
"There is nothing to judge here. The boy is guilty. Evidence is here, and here in the law court, we work with evidence. Does anyone have something to say before I make my decision?"
My father gently raised his hand.
"My Lord, you did not ask if the defendant had witnesses or evidence to prove his innocence?"
The judge waved his head. "No, sir. There is no need to waste much time. The boy is guilty."
My father disagreed. "That is not how to judge, sir. My son is innocent. Your job is to get to the truth and not cover it up."
I carefully positioned my phone camera, recording what was going on. I was live on TikTok. My friends had already shared my first video, I will tell you, guys, guys when I did the first.
"You can not tell me my work, sir. Your son should confess his crimes and face the consequences. He is a liar and a cheat."
My brother burst out again. "I am not a liar! I am telling you the truth! I did not do it! Please, sir!" He starts crying.
"You have no one, young man. He is guilty. He must pay damages. For that reason, he will pay damages of 5 million naira for what he did to his master, or he will be in prison for five years."
My father rushed out in front of everyone and knelt crying and pleading for mercy. People that came with him were begging. We had nowhere to get that money from, we barely fed. But no one cared, my uncle wanted to get back to my father for what he knows nothing about.
At this point, I received an email from the authorities after they saw my post, they asked where we were and I told them exactly what they needed to hear. Trust the authorities, they rushed down in no time.
"Please take me instead, let my son go please I beg you. Please!"
"Since they don't have the money, take him straight to prison. I have made my judgement. " He hits the table and stands up.
A voice came in suddenly, "Let the boy be!"
Everyone turned, it was Mr President! Everyone screamed his name. He came himself after seeing my first post an hour ago. I told my father to confront my uncle, which he did. When he left, Barrister Nduka came to speak to him, and I made a video of them. Capturing every single thing they said and planned to do. That was smart, right?
"Is this how judgement is done? No proper investigation? No proper considerations? You just make judgements just like that?"
I went straight to Barrister Sabastine and brought out the phone. I knew they would have an inner discussion with the judge, I had to put that phone to record whatever they discussed. I played it for everyone to hear. Everyone heard how my uncle had paid them to imprison my brother just to please his wife. Everyone heard how the videos they used as evidence were gotten. My uncle's wife took a video of him when he was carrying the goods she instructed to move just to use it against him.
Everything hidden came out open. Mr. President got all of the arrested, including those that work under them. My brother got released, and the damages were to be paid to him.
And just like that, we walked away and never looked back.
Just because you don't have money does not give people the right to step on you. Don't joke with the media!
Thanks for reading.