She plans to kill me

How it all began

2008 ( Seven years before)

Barrister Bello Kankiya led the team of Bastion of Justice, a non-governmental organization, made up of lawyers, with the sole aim of advocating for the voiceless, pro bono. It was no secret that some souls were rotting in jail, over meager offenses, simply because they had no one to represent them or could not afford a solicitor.

He was fifty five years old and had been a SAN for seven years. The team comprised of five lawyers, going round the prison cells, accompanied by prison officials, checking on inmates, taking records of their questions, then it will reported back to the association, and decision is made, lawyers chose the cases to take up.

Among the five lawyers was an odd one. Most of the lawyers who took up such cases were those who had made it in terms of money and could afford doing this. But the odd one was very young, twenty- four years old and had just been called to bar.

She was of moderate height, statuesque and firmly built. Her color was light brown, glittering and appealing. Her large eyes was pure white, like she was wearing it for the first time since it was saved from birth. Her lips were endowed with captivating power. When she smiled, they formed a shape that made men quiver, when she spoke, the wadding made you lose control ,missing her words and concentrating on the intriguing mouth part.

Her sharp featured oval face was like a mass with a strong force of field, attracting every attention that fell in place, over powering resistance potentials, and making the word beauty prominent.

There was this air of calmness around her, but with eyes that seemed not to miss details, yet maintained an expressionless face. She followed them with little or no words, doing more of listening, observation than talking.

They were about rounding up for the day, her first day of coming with them. This was a promise she had made in her first year in college, that if she was ever called to bar, she would advocate for some people pro bono.

They came to a halt before a cell. She noticed how overcrowded the cell was. There were about twelve inmates in the insalubrious cell, and the repulsive smell of urine hit her nose. But when she realised that the inmates were condemned criminals, her heart sunk. They called it CC. She saw lugubrious faces, desperate and dejected, while some never gave a hoot, laughing and talking. What she saw were living-dead men.

The inmates saw them and all rushed up, like famished bees that found nectars. They all began to appeal, imploring, claiming innocence. There was one very huge man, a look at him was enough to terrorize someone.

He made a short wild roar and all other inmates went hush. He wanted to speak and they must not interrupt.

“ Mr lawyers, my name Chukwemeka Obodozie Okorafor from Aba. I am aluso call The friend ofu Jezuz cry. Because I am love Jezuz andi I am bornu again. They say I am army robber because I was coming back fromu church wheni I am arrested and mistake for a army robber. It is the worku of devil who is angry thati I am winning souls for thy lord.

Pilis Mr lawyers, helep me comot for here. They wantu to killi me ,biko, helep me. I am innocenti. Ezieku! .”

When he was done, and hoped he had convinced them of his innocence, unaware that his appearance alone was a bugaboo, the rest of the inmates began to talk, except one man or boy. He was around twenty-three years old wearing bushy hair and beards. He was sitting on the bare floor, with his back against the wall, his hands wound round his legs while his chin rested on his knees.

He had not moved since the lawyers got there. He did not even look at their direction, nor acted as if he saw or heard what was going on. His eyes seemed blank, staring at nothing.  He seemed to be the youngest there and looked out of place.

The lawyers got their attention on him. Barrister Bello called out to him but he just sat like a statue, not responding to their calls.

“That one na zombie.” One of the inmates said, “ him no dey yan with anybody.”

“ He was condemned last month, ”said an official, “he is very dangerous. He wiped out a whole family, and he was a university cult member. He was a final year student, Chemical engineering, University of Jos.”

“ What a waste.” Barrister Bello said.

He did not move an inch or give them a glance up till the time they left there. The young lawyer gave him a last glance as they walked away.

“ Una papa!” the huge man ,Chukwuemeka cursed after them, “ So looku una come looku, we be animal for zoo? Idiots, I think say na helep una wantu helep. Ewu! Una lucky say I dey inside cage, I swear one squeeze, I don break neck! No be today.”

“ Presido!”

An inmate hailed him

“ Na craze they worry them. Make them do kill us make we rest sef. Who dey shake? No shaking! How many blanket I don tear? Babane, I don scatter! I don kpai souls. I don jolly, I kill many lives and me na one I get, they no fit kill pass one, who cheat them?”

“ Na you nah!”

“ Who dey rule?”

“ Don Bosko!’

“ Oya, National anthem.”

They began to sing their anthem except the mysterious young man.

The young lawyer could hardly sleep that night. She could not understand why the image of the young condemned inmate kept torturing her. It refused to go like a deep scar. She could still picture those eyes, full of life yet dead. There was something about him she could not understand. Her instinct was not a result of aposteriori, she had no data for inference, but intuitively, she felt something with him.

The next morning after getting ready for work, she made up her mind to find out more about him. Her father was also a senior advocate just like her mother. She worked in her father’s chambers. She revisited the case.

She read through the court sessions, then began to gather information. Something nudged her brain as she went through the file, then she went to the police. With the help of a commissioner of Police, she was allowed access to the case file.

She spent the whole day going through it. Then she began to study the man behind the case. This took her days. She checked his schools, made contacts in Ibadan, not satisfied, she flew to Ibadan herself and made her inquiries.

Getting approval from her father was very difficult. He thought it was quixotic, and felt she was just a rookie, too inexperienced to handle such a case. Besides, he said he made some enquiries with the judge who sentenced him and was told that the boy made a confession.

She said she knew about that. Her father was Barrister Bello but he was so strict and professional he never treated her like his daughter when it came to work.

“ You have always been pertinacious. I give you my support. We will let the House know that you are taking it up.”

She saw him being led into the visiting room. He still looked maverick and lost. This was the third time she was coming to see him but he had never responded to her questions or talked to her. He would just sit, staring vacuously at the wall, and when she was done, he would be led back.

Why did she have to keep doing this? What was wrong with him? Had he being mentally affected?

He sat as usual without a word.

“ I hope you are good.” She said softly. “ You were not a first class student but….4.4 for a final year student is good. You can’t let yourself die. You have to fight it….”she kept talking with no response from him.

Then he turned and looked at her for the first time. The eyes ,even though

Vacuous had some power in them, they made her intestines crumble for unknown reason.

“ What do you want?” He said in a deep voice, steady and calm.

“ I want to re-open your case. There is still time for appeal and we are running out of time.I am glad you talk.”

“ What is the point? I did it and I told them.”

“ I know what you told them.”

“Then why do you want to waste your time?”

“ Because you did not do it.”

He then gave her a sharp glance, and within that short time she saw a glitter and life in those eyes which did not last.

“ I did it.”

“ You did not. There is something you are hiding, and you are willing to die with it. Have you thought of those you would leave behind? The pain you will put them through?”

“ They came to terms with it. I think I am dead to them already. Just let it be.”

“ I saw the pictures of the dead bodies. It did not add up. I need you to tell me what happened, the truth, please. Think about your family, think about leaving with the reputation of a deadly cultist and killer.”

He starred vacuously at the wall for a minute, and she wondered what was going on in his mind. Then he turned at her as if seeing her for the first time.

“ Who are you?”

“ I am Barrister Mariam Bello Kankiya.”

“ I know you know but I am Danny Adam.”

At last, she felt her heart pulsating in excitement.

“ It all began one fateful Saturday morning…………”