THE Courtroom was packed full as usual. People from all walks of life had trooped to the Court to witness the drama that had become a weekly spectacle in the city of Ikayemi.The city of Ikayemi got its name from a dreaded character who was domiciled there. It was like a city where a one-eyed man lived and people started calling the town the city of the one-eyed. After a period, the town's name got shortened to One-Eye. So, it was with Ikayemi. 'Are the prosecutors ready with their charge or charges'' The presiding Judge adjusted his glasses as he looked in the direction of daggerwielding prosecutors. 'And by the way', the Judge continued as he noticed the daggers, 'This is a Court room, not a Gulag. I don't think I will tolerate unnecessary show of power here. Now, answer my question' 'Yes my Lord. My name is Kolanut. I am representing SSSSSSSS. My colleague, Mr. Darudapo is representing OOOOOOOOO. And my second colleague, Mr. Gbajue is representing APCP, while Ojuponkokomafo is representing CCCCCCCC. The four of us represent the four named Agencies that have serious one-millioncount charge against Mr. Okuta Meji Baba Ekuro.' 'You have not answered my question. I asked you a simple question whether you were ready with your charges', the Judge interrupted 'Yes my Lord. We are ready. Very ready my Lord' Spokesperson Kolanut answered. 'Then proceed', the Judge ordered. 'My Lord, it is not as straightforward as that. The four agencies here have monumental evidences against this useless criminal in the dock. He is a criminal. A criminal of the highest order. A common felon', Mr. Kolanut had forgotten himself. The venom in his belly had overtaken him. 'How many times do I have to repeat myself' This is a courtroom!' the Judge charged. 'Okay, my Lord. I am actually not supposed to speak for every Agency here, even though I am the lead Prosecutor. SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS has 600,000 charges against Okuta Meji Baba Ekuro, or whatever he calls himself. OOOOOOOOOOOO has 320,000 'count charge while APCP has 20000 and CCCCCCCCCCCC has 80,000. For now, we have one million charges.' 'Did I hear you say for now'' the Judge queried. 'Yes, my Lord. We are still hunting for more charges based on the number of petitions we received.' 'Then why are you here'' The Judge asked, puzzled. 'So that we can get conviction and send him to prison so that he does not interfere with our investigations.' 'You mean you have not concluded your investigations'' Then why did you bring him here'' 'My Lord. This boy needs to be taught a lesson. Our Agencies are very angry, especially OOOOOOOOOOO.' All this while the Courtroom was in deep suspense. And as the altercation between the Presiding Judge and the lead Prosecutor went on, both sympathisers of Okuta Meji Baba Ekuro and hired thugs who came with the prosecutors were alarmed at the brazen persecution without investigation. 'Okay, let me have some of the charges you have at present so that we can read them to him and his lawyers may decide what to do'. The Judge instructed. 'My Lord, may be you want my colleagues to read out the charges in their file' 'Yes, you' the Judge signaled to Ojuponkokomafo. 'Thank you my Lord. My name is Chief Ololajulo Ojuponkokomafo. I represent CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC. Right now, we have 80000-count charge. And I am convinced Okuta Meji Baba Ekuro is guilty even without a charge. I will read the charges, my Lord, if I am directed to do so. He is a thief. He is an armed robber. We make sure he does not escape from this'. 'Wait a minute', the Judge interrupted him.'Are you prosecuting or persecuting' What has he stolen' And from who' Have you investigated all these charges' What have you turned judicial process into' Now go ahead and read out your charges. 'Yes my Lord. We are yet to do the investigations. But the most glaring case is the lies he told us in his affidavit. He said he has only one mother. But we have just received a petition saying that he has two mothers! He must prove before this court that he does not have two mothers as alleged. On the other hand, he must prove that he has only one mother', Ojuponkokomafo submitted. Without waiting to be called, Mr. Darudapo, representing OOOOOOOOOOO, sprang to his feet. 'My Lord, I am Esubeleke Darudapo, popularly called Darudapo for short. I am the Prosecutor for OOOOOOOOOOO. The main charge we have conclusive evidence for now is that this man walks with intimidating arrogance. My Commission does not like his gait. We believed that as a public officer who got his position through the votes of our people, he should not have been walking the way he did while in office. His gait offended public taste. And we believe he should be committed to prison for walking like a prince. And even if he was a prince, he should have dropped his princely toga once he had entered political terrain. Can I continue sir'', Darudapo asked the Judge. 'I am Gbajue, 40 years at the bar. I represent ACPC. Our documents are not yet completed. But this fellow should spend the rest of his life behind bars. He knew he was successful before he entered the murky waters of politics. He has to pay dearly for that gamble. While in office, he overworked himself, building schools and colleges, and roads, and markets as if, as if one can finish government job. If he comes to this world again, he will not touch politics with the longest pole. When our charges are fully prepared, my Lord, you will not hesitate to give him the heaviest punishment under the law. Life imprisonment' The Court was getting restive. All the supporters outside the Courtroom were getting ready for a show down. But they were calmed by the comportment of the presiding Judge. And Mr. Okuta Meji Baba Ekuro was very much at peace with himself. It was Mr. Kolanut that almost caused a brawl. Without waiting for Darudapo to finish his statement, and without waiting for the Judge to call on lawyers representing Okuta Meji Baba Ekuro, Kolanut just screamed like someone possessed. 'We have got evidence to nail him. He cannot escape 600,000 charges. Here is the evidence! Here is the evidence! My Lord, we have got the evidence! 'What is going on'' The Judge was almost losing his cool. 'The evidence. The evidence. The evidence. My Lord, we have got fresh petitions from Baba Idilere Beer Parlour!' Kolanut lost his breath. 'Court!' Case adjourned.
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