LIFE IMPRISONMENT 34
WRITTEN BY: GRACE OLAYEMI
Danger stood in court that afternoon and pleaded guilty for all the charges leveled against him. The court room was packed full of people that had anticipated that date like a pregnant woman waiting for her due date. Reporters from various radio, TV, newspaper, blog and even social media personalities were all present to get the fresh gist on the latest development about Danger.
The internet was on fire when the tweet went out that Danger had pleaded guilty and everyone anticipated the decision of the judge. The case took another turn when Danger began to mention the names of the people that had sponsored his escapades and had given him most of the dirty jobs to carryout for them.
“I killed Chief Felix at the instruction of Senator Badmus.”
“I attacked Elite’s microfinance bank on the instruction of Honourable David.”
The more he talked, the more uproar that was raised both inside the court room, outside and even online.
It was so difficult to control the crowd at the Federal High court that morning that the case was adjourned until a later date.
* * * * * *
“This is the end,” Mr Adam, one of the Exquisite party members, said as the news of everything Danger said in the court that day came out and everyone agreed with him.
“I knew we should not have allowed him step foot in that court room. The bastard we gave the assignment to, got himself killed and the other one did not even know where Danger was kept.”
“That lawyer must pay dearly for this.”
“Before we worry about that. Shouldn’t we be more concerned about how we will redeem our image?”
“That can wait.”
“It cannot wait. The prosecution will begin investigation immediately. What if they find something to support Danger’s accusations?”
“They cannot find anything. We always clean up after us.”
“But all the same we need to check up and be ahead of them to avoid any surprises.”
“That true!”
“But that lawyer would not escape.”
“Yes!”
* * * * * *
Abraham knew it was just a matter of time before he got attacked. He was always careful as he spent the night at various hotels in different localities. He never plied the same route twice and he always watched if he was being followed. He could not even trust his boss or any of his colleagues at work anymore and so he refrained from going to work. His boss had tried to persuade him that he would never harm him but he knew better than to trust his words.
Abraham could not post anything online and he would not even pick up strange numbers because he didn’t want his location to be tracked.
He returned home to get few more clothes when he saw his gate man tied to a chair. He untied him and something blew up. An explosive had been connected to the rope and it burnt Abraham’s hand while his gate man suffered a major burn.
He took him to the hospital and was downhearted that the innocent man had to suffer because of him.
“What do I do in a time like this, Lord?” He prayed silently as he sat outside the theatre where his gate man was being operated on.
“It’s time to leave the scene. You have played your part,” he heard in his spirit and he continued to check to be sure it was God that was speaking to him and not his flesh.
He nursed his gate man to health and luckily he responded to treatment quickly. His wife was with him to take care of him and that relieved Abraham a bit. He gave them enough money to take care of themselves and set themselves up in life.
He visited his boss and gave him the 3 million Naira he got when Danger’s case was handed over to him. He also went with his resignation letter and a message of salvation to his boss.
He visited Danger on the day of his departure and he showed Danger some pictures on his phone.
Danger could not believe his eyes. He stared until his eyeballs popped. Comfort was standing beside Abraham in one of the pictures. They were seated with two children in another one and many other postures.
“Comfort is your wife?” He asked after finding his voice.
Abraham nodded and he was emotional when Danger burst into tears.
“I’m so happy she got a good man. She lived a better life without me. I wouldn’t have been able to give her all these if she had stayed with me. I thought she was what she was because of me but now I know better that God was behind her success. God would have raised up help for us if I didn’t do anything.”
He continued to talk and Abraham totally understood.
“Are they outside?” Danger asked expectantly.
“I will love to see her again with my beautiful nieces. I don’t even know if she would want to see me. I killed our father. I need to seek for her forgiveness. What of Edward? Hope he made it through the university.”
“Stop blaming yourself. You only did all you did in your time of ignorance and God has forgiven you so please forgive yourself already.”
“And for your questions, Comfort and Edward had been looking for you since I met Comfort. She would always talk about you, visit orphanage homes on your birthdays and give to the needy every other day saying that you taught her to do that.”
“We named our first daughter after you. She is Oluwarantimi. Edward is now a doctor at the teaching hospital.”
Danger sobbed uncontrollably. “I’m so glad they made it without me.”
“Comfort is outside the country with the children. I sent them there when I took up your case and was being harassed in the society.”
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“I can’t believe I caused them pain again.”
“No, stop saying that. You didn’t cause anything. I will be joining them today.”
“Mr Emmanuel has promised to get you another lawyer even though I know you would not be needing any. The case is sealed already. Those criminals need to be punished for all they orchestrated and then you get your sentence. I want you to know that your life is not wasted and cannot be. Whatever sentence you get; you still have some days left before the sentence and you can maximize it by living for God with your full potentials. God is never too late and I’m sure you got saved at the right time. Please, don’t lose your faith. Hold on to Jesus and he will see you through.”
They prayed together, cried together and Abraham left. He had only met him for a short while but he felt he was leaving a piece of himself behind.
* * * * * *
Comfort was in the sky to have her husband with them. Rantimi screamed in excitement and even Seunfunmin ran to give him a hug. He had missed so much in their lives. He wasn’t even there when his second daughter took her first step and then she was already running. He had a wonderful time with his family and for the first time in a long time he felt his heart complete as though he had accomplished a huge task.
“Danger is going to jail for sure?” Comfort asked over breakfast the following day and he was silent.
She had allowed him rest the previous day and the euphoria of seeing each other again after a while did not afford her the opportunity to ask for the update on Danger’s case.
“His crimes are beyond jail. He might get a death sentence,” he responded.
“Good for him.”
“Really? Good for him? Do you even have a conscience at all?”
Comfort was surprised.
“I have a conscience and that is why I want a criminal to be duly punished for his crimes.”
“Do you know why he did what he did? Do you even know his story?”
“Nothing justifies crime. He had a choice to make and he chose crime. You are a lawyer and you should know that better than anyone.”
“Yes, but his case is different.”
“Everyone’s case is different. The fact remains that he was a terror to the city and he needs to be punished.”
“What of his family members?”
“They deserved to be thrown in jail for having such a criminal in their family. They all enjoyed the evil money he brought to them and they should be punished together with him.”
Abraham scoffed and went quiet. He had wanted to tell, Comfort that Danger was her brother but hearing all she said made him doubt if she would believe him.
“So, what did you do on your brother’s birthday?” He deliberately changed the topic to see her reaction.
“I prayed for him and that was all,” she said and her countenance dropped.
“You love him, don’t you?”
“What kind of question is that? If there is another word greater than love, that is what I feel for him. I’m indebted to him.”
Abraham smiled and showed Comfort his phone. He had gotten the original video of Danger’s arrest from Mr Emmanuel.
“I’ve watched it before,” she said initially but when her eyes sighted Ranti she went mute and stared on in disbelief.
“This cannot be right. Tell me there is a mix up somewhere?” She started wailing and Abraham had to take her into the room to avoid confusing the children.
She sobbed until she ran out of tears and then began to sigh.
“Danger is Big Bro. How is that possible?”
Abraham explained everything to her and how he got to know. He told her Danger was already converted and he had informed him about her. She was happy that he was no longer mad at them.
She cried when she remembered that he would be getting a sentence soon and she might not get a chance to meet him. She wanted to fly back to Nigeria immediately but Abraham persuaded her otherwise. He urged her that what Danger needed at that moment was ceaseless prayers.
She told Edward about it later in the day and the latter was also shocked at the news. They spent time together on the phone crying and blaming themselves for being responsible for their brother’s wrong choice in life.
To be continued…
