THE JURY & THE JUDGMENT
Author: Isaac Elagha (Mr.Congressman)
This is a work of Fiction, names, Characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the Author's imagination.Any resemblance to actual persona living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
All Rights reserved.
No part of this novel may be reproduced, transmitted or stores in a retrieval system or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission in writing from the Author.
The Rights of Isaac Elagha to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright laws.
APPRECIATION
My profound Gratitude firstly goes to God Almighty,the giver of life who gave me this inspiration to write this piece of work, Glories belongs to him alone.
Also ,I wish to extend my greetings to my brother and Friend, Comrade Timadi Friday Eniekpo-elade who started the Novel writing journey with me
Also ,am grateful to all my friends in the global world,who had helped me in one way or the other.
Thanks to you all .
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to the "AFRICAN MOTHER", My mother from whose breast milk (water of life) i sucked in the desire to achieve greatness in all my endeavors.
AND
Also to zado secondary school 2018/19 senior sets(Zado Most Seniors).
CHAPTER ONE (1)
It was very early in the morning, when Johnson's mother woked him up from the sleep at about 5:00AM and asked him to prepare for school.
Johnson's Father who always orders his wife, Peremoboere to allow the child to sleep till dawn before waking him up for school orders again when she woked him up. (Both Parents of Johnson usually pampers their son because he is the only fruit of the womb, they were be able to bore him after a long search for fruit of the womb). But his mother always insist that he should not be allowed to sleep till dawn before awaking him up for school or any other thing.
Johnson who refused to wake up from the slumber when his mother called him was forcefully waken up by his mother through the help of a cane.
He waked up from the slumber and prepared for school while his mother was in the kitchen preparing breakfast for the family.
At about 6:30AM, Johnson was in the school compound waiting for the arrival of his co-students, both his classmates and junior students.Johnson was considered as the most brilliant and charming student of olden college of AZUKU village because of his excellent performance in class and even school competitions.Johnson and his classmates were now addressed as senior prefects because their class is now the highest in the school, although they weren't appointed prefects at that time.
Many students arrived in the school compound wearing complete uniform and greeted him when they walked pass him to their various classes.
Johnson was little flabbergasted when he saw his classmates that are termed as rude and most stubborn students of the school wearing complete uniform for the first time in the school.
"Is there any important occasion in the school or is the school officials selecting prefects today?, he thought to himself.
"Good Morning Johnson " they greeted him.
Morning my fellow colleagues, he replied them.
He was still starring at them when they leaved after greeting him. The morning assembly of the school was not conducted because the principal orders all students to go in to their various classes. After sometime, another bell was ranged, order all students to the assembly for important announcement from the government, the principal shouted.
The campanologist ranged the bell as ordered by the principal. All students rushed in to the assembly ground.
It's a pleasure of having you all as students and it's also a pleasure of you all having us as teacher's, the principal started.
Not to waste much of our times, our mean nitty gritty of gathering here is that we want another students leadership from the senior class, he added. Our senior prefect appellation is no other person than Johnson Tarebi, head girl is doubra didi and other names were made silent.
All students were happy because appointing Johnson as the S.P is to brush up them and that it's a challenge for them to do better.The appointments of the major and minority prefects by the principal were all made Adamant because the quotes states, "Give honor to those whom it's due ". (The news of Johnson appointment as senior prefect didn't came as a surprise in the village because he's the most brilliant student in the school).
After the appointment, all students were sent back to the class for proper learning. The perfectship appointment of the school became the center of discussion of the school before the school was dismissed. My son has made me proud onec more time, his mother said as he
joyously told his mom about the new appointment. She embraced him joyously and thanked the gods for the gift of knowledge given to her son and also prayed for healthy life.
After few months of Johnson commissioning as the senior prefect of the school, his father fell sick due to over work issues. Local herbalists were sent to him for treatment but to no avail, his father Tarebi kicked the bucket(he passed out to the cold hands of death).The death of Tarebi was a shock to the family and the village because Tarebi in his local business has helped many in diverse ways.
Johnson's father body was laid go rest after many days of being in the village shrine for purification.
Many people accused Peremoboere for killing her husband out of ignorance, Peremoboere couldn't hold back her tears as she knows nothing about their allegations, she was made to sleep with her husband's dead body in the shrine during the purification to claim whether she's innocent or not as accorded by the tradition of AZUKU.
CHAPTER TWO (2)
Life in AZUKU became very tough to Johnson after the demise of his father, Tarebi because his father qaa the sole bread winner of the family although his mother is also industrious. Due to the toughness of life in AZUKU for Johnson and his waec registration was at risk, he couldn't make on time to go to school as early as he was doing before, he had to go to the farm before going to school even though his mom stopped him to do so. Sometimes, after school he had to go to the scream to weep because the mentor of his life is no more and that his SSCE registration is nearly to relapse for lack of money. Had it been my father is still alive, i would have done my registration without wasting time with the help of my mother, he thought out loud.
Johnson was a boy born and bred by a puritan mother, who vowed to train him even with the last drop of her blood to make sure he achieve his goal in life, secretly went to her neighbor to borrow money and payed her child registration. Johnson was so elated when his mother gave him the Money, he smiles and said truly i have a life to live and also prayed to the gods to guide his mother to enjoy the fruit of her labour.
The next day, he went to the school and enrolled for his waec without wasting time, he was so happy in front of the principal for the first time after the demise of his father, am now going to school normally and will be writing my exam with my colleagues, he thought to himself. Johnson was eager to study law in university, selected his nine subjects and sitted for the exam after two weeks of his registration. He came out km flying colors and as he promised his mother not to disgrace her by scoring low in the exam.
He made all his nine papers including Mathematics and English language.
Life in AZUKU became little easy for Johnson after his graduation from the secondary school because his mother is always there to carter for his needs when the need arises. He normally helped his mother at the market to sell food stuffs and other materials.
He aimed of collecting university form, so he worked hard with his mother, after gathering some money he worte the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination amd beat off the general cut off mark for the year. Through the help and courage of his mother and other colleagues in the village, he got admitted to MAJOR'S INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY to study civil law.
University life was not easy for Johnson in the 100 and 200 Levels but he managed to solve the problems. Due to his introvert attitude in the 100 and 200 Levels respectively, he had only one friend, Isaac Ebi who was his roommate in MAJOR'S INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY and who was also a civil law student with him.
Due to some financial problems, Johnson sometimes has to do some minor works in the campus just to raise some money but his mother always insist that he should not do such things, his mother will borrow money from the villagers amd promised to pay back when the need arises for Johnson's school fees. Anytime he comes back home within the vacation period, he have to hustle to get a table set in the family and his mother will always advice him not to join bad boys(cult) but should associate with friends that will help him both financially and educational capacity. Isaac Ebi, his roommate will sometimes pay a visit to his house as they are from the same Village, he will also advice him not to associate with friends that will reduce his educational capacity or even lure him to dropout from school.
After much exercise as a good friend to Johnson, they went together to school to see if their names are in the list, whether they are allowed to go to the 300 Level. To their surprise their names was in the promotion list of the school and no carry over, the two friends were very happy about the news, when they got to their room Isaac Adviced Johnson's on some matters about the 300 level.
O boy!, na the strongest level we dey right now o, Isaac said in pidgin English. Why I mean is the strongest is because many challenges will come, many students usually don't make it to the final level because of following bad friends, joining cults and all sorts of things so my advice for you and even to myself is that we should focus on our studies, avoid bad friends and all sort of things that will limit our educational knowledge, Isaac Finally said.
gods of our land, please guide and protect us as we are stepping into another level of education, Johnson prayed.
After few weeks of being in the same hostel with Isaac, Johnson decided to rent another room in Dr. Peterson's Hostel(Off campus).
Isaac was surprised about the new behavior of Johnson in the 300 Level, he thought of stopping him from going off campus, instead be should stay in the main campus but to no avail, Johnson declined all his instructions and advice's and went ahead to secure an apartment in Peterson's hostel. Even though Johnson had packed out from the main campus and leaving Isaac behind, his friend Isaac will not waste time to talk to him on different occasions and mostly about his decision for leaving the main campus.
But Johnson will say, Life is not fair in the school hostel, so i decided to pack out and also asked Isaac not to come to his room if that's what he's coming for. Isaac was amazed when Johnson asked him out of his room because of his questions about vacating the school campus.
Oh boy!!! Life don change oo, Johnson will always say.
CHAPTER THREE (3)
It was very early in the morning when Johnson and two girls entered Peterson hostel, Johnson was in the middle of the two girls with his arms round their shoulders.
The three figures were heading to Johnson's room, a three Hundred Level Student in Civil law. Having danced all night and as well been saturated with alcohol in the night party, Johnson deemed it as the best of all the previous ones he had attended.The party was organized by Nathaniel, the new friend to Johnson when he packed out from the main campus. Despite the darkness that enveloped the corridor, Johnson didn't find it difficult to select the right key for his door. He put the key into the keyhole and opened the house, he searched for the switch which was at the wall of the room, he switch it and looked at the wall clock ams find out that it was 4:47AM. He closed the door immediately but forgot to lock it up.
On the bed, his two girlfriends Philomina and Anita were already half naked, he hurriedly put off his clothes, with his singlet and short, he jumped on the bed, Philomina and Anita with their heads resting peacefully on Johnson's chest as they slept.
Philomina was Johnson's first girlfriend in MAJOR'S INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY when he packed out from the school campus.Philomina was introduced to Johnson by Nathaniel his friend, a Political science student who was also admitted to the university in the same year with Johnson.
After few months as Johnson began to improve in the department of love, he thought he should have a second girlfriend and he successfully won the heart of Anita. Philomina was a student of Mass Communication in the school and Anita a Philosophy student.
At about 11:30 AM, there was a knock on the door. Johnson and his girlfriends deeply buried in sleep didn't hear the hard knock on the door. Fortunate for Nathaniel, the door was not locked, he pushed the door and gain access to the room with his girlfriend, Bibobra.
"Johnson the great female hunter", Nathaniel shouted at Johnson who woke up immediately due to the severe shout. At once, Johnson jumped up from the bed kuje someone who was strung by a bedbug.He exchanged greetings with Nathaniel and his girlfriend and they (Johnson & girlfriends) dashed into the bathroom while Nathaniel and his girlfriend were waiting for them in the room, hurriedly they all came out from the bathroom, dressed up a went outside without minding going to Lecture, instead they went to the bar.
"I'm very hungry, I need to go out and refill myself", Johnson said in a weak and famished tone.
I sure say you carry enough money for your pocket o, because we too go shop oo! "Nathaniel said.
That will not be a problem, even though we finish the remaining money in my pocket, am even planning to go and collect more money from my mom very soon. In fact that woman never wastes time to provide me with any request that concerns my study. Even if she doesn't have it, she would have to borrow and make sure that i'm lacking nothing.After all she's expecting that one day her only son will become a legal practitioner, at least that has provided a great opportunity for me to add my own quota whenever any due is to be paid in school.
That's my guy speaking, Nathaniel hailed Johnson, when i was telling you to live a happy life as you are still young, you thought i was deceiving you, now you have seen what we called as enjoyment.
Nathaniel, i must say am very lucky to have you as a friend, life seems very sweet Since i met you, that old friend of mine, Isaac Ebi was just covering NY destiny, Johnson concluded..
The five went out to the nearby restaurant, Johnson paid all the bills after fehy were all satisfied. There was so much laughter in the room when they came back from the restaurant before they heard a knock on the door, Johnson was disappointed when he saw Isaac standing at the door post, he managed to smile as not to get suspicious but Isaac noticed that his arrival will be a bad day to him. Isaac greeted all the five persons in the room as he slowly lowered his ass to the bed. Johnson's hatred on Isaac was because of his restlessness which Isaac's advise makes him.
"Bishop, it had been long now when i saw you last in the class, had it not reached two weeks now or did you travel!, Isaac asked Johnson concernedly.
Isaac, I have told you time without number that am not a reverend father nor a Bishop. Call me by my name; Johnson warned with all seriousness.
"Yes my Lord, with due respect and absolute humility, i thereby render my apology to the most learned. I pledge to be loyal and respectful to the rules and order given by the senior advocate of the Federation, yet to be", Isaac teased Johnson and the room was filled with laughter.
After some hours, Isaac stand to leave, Johnson i will be leaving i have to attend lecture by 3:20PM. You are supposed to attend too because an important topic is to be treated.
No, i can't attend lectures now because am very sick for the past two weeks, that's why you haven't being seeing me in classes, Johnson lied.
Isaac opened one of the note books in his left hand and brought out two long brown envelopes and handed over to Johnson.
CHAPTER FOUR (4)
I received the two envelopes from someone in the village, Isaac Concluded and left for his lecture. Johnson looked closely at the two envelopes and couldn't come to a conclusion about what they contained. He was a bit troubled when the Opened the first Envelope, the letter was from his mother and which says she was sick and he's needed beside her.
Many Thoughts came to his mind when he wanted to open the second envelope, he silently said is my mother health good now? Or is it a bad news?. He gained Courage and waived away all the bad thoughts about his mother.
As he was opening it his hands continue to shake slightly. Johnson was dumbfounded when he opened the second letter , he saw a thing that seemed to be a great blow to his entire Generation, A thing that he wasn't even expecting to come. There was neither pleasing words not Petty name's, the letter was straight forward as simple: "Johnson, come back home your Mother had joined her Ancestors in the League".
As he saw the hand writing in the little booklet, he first thought he was in the dream world, he immediately took a bottle of water and washed his face still the same words stood as they had been placed on the writing-pad. He wished that the earth would open and swallow him alive. , His life automatically became tasteless to him, he could not imagine loosing his Consanguinity to the cold hands of death at that age, A mother who did not Abandoned him despite the fact that she was chased away from her Matrimonial domain after her Husband's demise.
Suddenly tears began to roll down from his cheeks, Nathaniel noticed the sudden change of his friend's mood, he took the letter that fell down from Johnson's hand, Nathaniel too was shocked when he glanced at the letter,fear gripped Nathaniel as well. "Johnson, I am very sorry for what has happened, Maybe that's how God wanted it to be, you cannot kill yourself because of this, please take heart" Nathaniel queried in concern.. Of course the burden was too much for Johnson to bear, his girlfriends and Bibobra were also showering him words of consolation at the same time, At a Moment Johnson was able to control himself yet the stream of tears didn't ceased to flow.
In the Night, Johnson couldn't sleep the memory of his mother continued to disturb him, his conscience didn't ceased to accuse him of being guilty.
Had it been that,I have being attending lectures regularly I would have received the first letter on time and saved my Mother,he thought to himself. He continued to soak himself in the ocean of thought, But my mother would have recuperated if she had gone to the hospital, Johnson accused himself for killing his Mother, he also recalled back to the last time he went to the village to collect money for an unreasonable purpose, his Mother managed and gave him thirty thousand naira when he went to her for the recent time. He remembered how Nathaniel persuaded him to organize a party and with a trick to collect another money from his Mother not even up to two months after his mother gave him the Thirty Thousand Naira, Nathaniel persuaded me to collect another twenty Eight Thousand Naira from my Mother when I know that it's hard to get that kind of Money during that period, I know how she managed to raise the previous Thirty Thousand Naira but instead I went Cowardly heeding to Nathaniel's Advise and Collected The Money without thinking twice that I came from a poor family while Nathaniel is from Rich Family, he thought out loud while crying....Had it been I didn't collect that Twenty Eight Thousand Naira she would have used it and go to the Hospital for proper treatment, As Johnson was on the bed that night tears continued to flow like stream down his cheeks, He regretted for knowing Nathaniel in his Life as A Friend....Had it been I listened to Isaac's advices my mother wouldn't have died.....Oh!!! Had I know is the best answer to a fool and am now a fool.....I killed my own Mother in collaboration with Nathaniel....Oh!!! What a Shame, now am living a life of Adrift.....My Ambition to be a famous boy in the university by hosting the Night party is now termed as useless. So MaMa,I will not see you again?, Why did you decide to leave me alone in this sinful world?, Who will embrace me warmly As You Normally do whenever I came back home from School?, Why....Why..., Johnson lamented and sobbed deeply.
The Innocent Empty room couldn't supply any answer to the litany of Lamentation from Johnson that Night.
Very Early In the morning, Johnson got himself fresh up and went to the village towards his mother obituary arrangements, The One week during which the burial arrangement was being made at the village, Johnson continued to fade away as he cried day and night. As time went on his eyes began to swell up due to his unending crying, To him life seemed tasteless without his Mother at his side..... The Burial ceremony of Peremobo-ere was done successfully, even their compound couldn't contain all the guests that came to the burial.
The Death of Peremobo-ere in the village was a big blow to all the people because she was considered as one of the Most Peaceful being and The same time she helped many people since she was chased away from her Matrimonial domain to her own village. Johnson couldn't hold himself when they were filling mounds to his Consanguinity's grave.
Immediately the boys took the duty of filling up the grave, the cry of the people was intensified as the heaps of sand were landing forcefully on the casket, Johnson cried bitterly as the filling up exercise at the grave was in progress. With heart heavy with sorrow , he read the funeral oration, the whole arena was filled with Murmuring and sighing as Johnson was reading the funeral oration, many people were already swimming in tears at the same time.
CHAPTER FIVE (5)
A week later after the burial ceremony of his Mother, he informed his uncle pereakpo that he want to go back to the school and continue his studies... On Tuesday Johnson left for school as he reached school that afternoon many students filled his room to sympathize with him, Isaac and Nathaniel was also sighted there accompanied by Johnson's two girlfriends, Isaac was grieved in pain... Had it been he listened to all my advices and let go of Nathaniel, things will not have been in this way.... Isaac thought to himself.. On that day, Johnson became saturated with advices of different kinds from different colleagues, some of his course-mates(Females) brought him food but Johnson couldn't eat any of it, having ate and became filled with sorrow..He lost appetite for food.
The overcrowding of his room since this arrival didn't give him any chance to remember his sorrows, he felt happy all the while as the students continued to discuss one matter after the other which were very interesting and some very funny.
As night was drawing nearer and darkness was digging deeply into the night, the sympathizers continued to depopulate, Only Nathaniel and Isaac was left behind.... Johnson's two girlfriends couldn't stay because they said they had something more important to do in the night. Johnson began to swim in ocean of thought, he would bend his head sometimes when touched he will be shocked like someone who unknowingly immersed his finger, he will smile slightly in pretense... After sometime, Nathaniel made known to them that he will be leaving and will come back in the morning to see Johnson that he was very tired and weak and he left to his house, Isaac couldn't leave Johnson all alone so he slept with him in his(Johnson) room.
It was as if Johnson had started anew in the university when he finally recovered from his grief , he had a lot to do you meet up with all that had been taught in school during his absence..... In other to make Johnson achieved his Ambition as a law student in the 300 Level, Isaac helped him by teaching him some topics that he missed and also did the Assignments as tests that he missed during his stay in the village due to his mother's burial and his stay with Nathaniel for two weeks, sometimes Isaac will teach him topics in the lecture hall before the lecture will begin, with the help of Isaac.... Johnson was so happy by the way Isaac is taking care of him, he also apologized for the rude behavior he showed to Isaac during his flexing with Nathaniel, with the help of Isaac, Johnson regained all that he missed, he really appreciated Isaac's invaluable help to him. The Examination came and went , to Johnson's perplexity he came out in flying colors, he performed very well in all his courses without a carryover.
When the semester was over, Johnson went home for the long vacation but the holiday was not a happy one to him since his caring mother was not there for him but at least Isaac was there for him, his (Johnson) loneliness in the village during when Isaac is not around always aggravated in sorrow while he cried most of the times.
In addition to Johnson's sorrow over the absence of his mother in the house, another problem came up.... There was no means to raise money for his going back to school after the long vacation, being the first semester alot of money would be involved.... Johnson didn't know what to do or whom to run to, his only maternal uncle was also old and couldn't fetch him money for his needs, he remembered when his mother will struggle every moment to make sure that she raise some money before he comes back home for the holiday when she was alive..... Johnson began to swim in the ocean of thought and sorrow, he became despondent as pessimistic about the future, there was no job which could fetch him more money at that moment, only day-to-day job of farm weeding was available at that time...... Oh! What an Agony of life.... The Mystery of Life is too bad for the living, it's better to die than live in this condition, he thought out loud.... He decided to meet his matrimonial home (His Father's Family) but his matrimonial home chased him away saying he's "EVIL".
The inability to find People's help and favor in the village throw Johnson into psychological prison of sorrow and agony, it was the that Johnson understood his mother's worth to him... One would never know the value of what he has until one losses it. As the ten weeks of the long vacation elapsed, Johnson went back to school without money... On reaching school life became more tougher to him, be packed out from Peterson's hostel and put his belongings to Nathaniel's room.
CHAPTER SIX (6)
As a Result of this, Johnson attached himself to Nathaniel's room in Dr.Karl's special Guest house where Nathaniel is living, feeding was not easy for him and there was no enough money to buy some essential textbooks, Johnson really smelt rod... He could only eat by the mercy of some students, his two girlfriends aslo dumped him up and ran away from his agony of life. As time went on Nathaniel began to treat Johnson very badly, he was no longer happy with Johnson's stay in his house... Though Nathaniel didn't tell Johnson to vacate from his house but his actions towards him vividly portrayed his mind.
As the humiliation on Johnson continued to increase, Johnson became tired of the unending insults and embarrassment from Nathaniel and his girlfriend, at time he couldn't longer cope with the obnoxious character of Nathaniel towards him, he moved out from his house. In order to prevent Johnson from being a wanderer in the campus, Isaac decided to share his small bed in the school hostel room with him...Isaac became gen food-provider for Johnson.
The semester was very hot and Thorny as far as Johnson was concerned,As time went on things began to go beyond control. Johnson was weak when a lecturer announced to them of selling his two books,and failure to the buy the books the person is automatically considered as a failure and the two courses were very important to Johnson, there was no way to raise money to buy the books... He decided to solicit Nathaniel about the problem but it went to the contrary, Nathaniel replied him that he don't have money that the only money he has is from his parents that he want to use it to change his wardrobe...All the clothes in that wardrobe is old and that I want to use the remaining money in my account to change it, can't help you because I don't have money, Nathaniel Concluded.
Johnson was dejected and confused, Isaac too can't help because he is also buying the books and he's also from a poor family like him and his parents can't afford the two of them, despite all appeals from Johnson with an ocean of tears , Nathaniel was not moved to do anything about that instead he mocked him for uselessing his life in the campus.
At last Johnson failed the two courses and other one course in the semester, his performance in the semester has nothing to write home about, he got three carryovers out of his eight courses and that's a very big blow to his Educational system being in the final year.
After the semester, Johnson went home and nobody saw him again in the university when school resumed for the second semester, that was how Johnson dropped out of the university from his almost finished studies in civil law (400 Level Second Semester).
In the village, things began to turn from bad to worse... No one was concerned to help Johnson achieve his aim of becoming lawyer , Johnson became despair and finally decided to quit from his journey to become a lawyer so he decided to do some minor businesses in the village just to fend himself and his old uncle and at least to set up a business that's reasonable but still the same no big amount of money was raised to set up business that's some how worth profiting, after much suffering from his colleagues in the village, he decided to move to the city to find a better job doing, at the city he was first taken as a gate keeper but later dropped himself from the work after finding out that his Master(Employer) is Nathaniel's Father.
He later ventured into street Hawking business, he have to hawk his goods from one street to other just to set a table in his home, Life was so unfair to Johnson even in the city. One day,he hawk his goods to Congressman's street in Akazu city as he was waiting for people to patronize him he saw a black Jeep coming back towards his direction after the person had droved off,he was little happy, he thought the person was coming to buy his goods but it went to the opposite.The Jeep stopped beside him ,he saw a lady who sat at the back seat of the big expensive cat,the lady was in suit she ordered Johnson to sell her some fruits, her spectacle was firmly fixed on her face while she was asking for him to sell for her, both the lady and Johnson was dumbfounded when they caught the sight of each other, Behold the lady was his old university friend who was a Political Science student and also a friend to Nathaniel, Johnson was shocked looking steadily at "FLORENCE" (The Lady in the Car), he didn't know when the goods fell down from his hands.
"Johnson" is this you? Florence surprisedly asked.
"Florence", Are you the owner of this big Expensive Car?, He asked.
She stepped down from the car and embraced him Warmly, Florence was very glad to see Johnson again after years back in the university but Johnson was not happy, he remembered how Nathaniel had put him with his negative influence in his menace, She took him and went to a nearby restaurant to discuss the way forward and how life has been treating him since he left the university, she was shocked when he pronounced his plague. 'Am really sorry Johnson, Besides all Hope is not lost yet, I believe God will do something great for you in the appointed time, just don't loose hope in God she advised.
The advice was not for Johnson, though he was physically present with her but his mind had been wandering in the world of thought since he met her in the road, He remembered his position in the department of Civil Law , Actually he was among the best students in his set those whom the lecturers were expecting to go out of the university with first class degree in civil law but reverse was the case for Johnson.
Instead of first class or Second class upper degree in Civil Law, he finally became a first class degree holder in street Hawking.
CHAPTER SEVEN (7)
I think i have to be going now, I will be coming to check on you from time to time since you have given me your house address, Johnson said with a forced smile.. he left the restaurant very ashamed after he had exchanged the last greetings with her, from the restaurant he went straight to his house without collecting his items in the restaurant, he couldn't imagine himself being a street hawker whereas he was supposed to be in the court of law doing justice to the law of the country. During his going back to the restaurant to collect the items he left in there after he had cried enough he saw an invitation letter which was pasted on one of the walls in the street with the inscription: NATHANIEL PEREMENE HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS SENIOR SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT ON POLITICS and that the public pleasure is needed to honor his appointment party at his father's residence, Johnson quickly collected the invitation booklet from the wall and immersed it into his big front pocket after finding out the date, time and venue of the event, he nodded his head steadily for some time and said "the Wicked will never go unpunished" Nathaniel!!! You must join me in my college of sorrow and unhappy life, he vowes with severe ferocity and went back home.
At home, sorrow then became a permanent visitor to Johnson, he never ate nor tasted anything... All the night he never slept but only cry till morning, he became more unhappy whenever he remembers the Hawking business and Nathaniel's appointment letter, he continued to prepare very hard for the great party in honor of Nathaniel due to his Political appointment.
On the day for the party ceremony in honor of Nathaniel, everything started successfully;the party was a great one indeed; Infact the day was very favourable... The cloud didn't show any sign of shedding tears, Instead the sun continued to smile cheerfully to the inhabitants of the earth, After sometime when the party was booming with musics and dancing steps were moving to and fro, Johnson arrived the venue.
Nathaniel was surprised to see Johnson, he became timid but suddenly waved away all the negative thoughts. Johnson dipped his right hand into his inner pocket of his black suit and spontaneously brought out a revolver, the sweet melodious song which had been playing softly in the compound was heard no more when Johnson fired four bullets into the air.
"Johnson didn't came here to harm people, but maybe he had decided to show his joy and also to announce his arrival with the firing of the gun, Nathaniel thought to himself.
Johnson walked majestically like a king towards Nathaniel with the gun in his hand in an unhappy mood, Nathaniel became terrified when he moved towards him. "I can see you are here making yourself Happy after you had ruined my entire life, your devilish advice caused the death of my own mother, but here your mother and father is still alive enjoying the fruits of their labour right?, Due to the death of my mother I dropped out from school as a result of my inability to secure someone who will take her position in training me in the university, for your Devilish and wicked attitude have decided to come and give you your own salary of the agony of life, Johnson finally said and triggered the gun and the generous gun released two bullets Into Nathaniel's Mother and she died instantly.
Now you're trembling?, This is just the number one step, you must enjoy the fruit of your labour. Nathaniel trembled in fear , his body was shaking as if electric current was passing through him. The soul that sinneth shall die", Johnson said and three bullets to his father, blood flowed like stream , Nathaniel couldn't hold himself together loosing his parents to the world behind in just a twinkle of eye, Nathaniel collapsed immediately after seeing his parents bodies lying helplessly. Having completed his mission, Johnson dashed outside the compound and move straight to where his Motor was (Rented Motor) but was later got arrested by the Police Officers that was on their check point, the police handcuffed Johnson and took him away. Nathaniel was rushed to the "YOU DO ME I DO YOU INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL" while the bodies of his parents was deposited in the mortuary, Nathaniel later regained consciousness after some hours, as he was still receiving treatment one of the party partakers announced to him that Johnson had been arrested and he's in the police custody, Nathaniel was so excited because he thought he must get justice for his parents, he vowed that Johnson would walk through hell before he would be sent to visit his ancestors.
In the prison, though he was in great pain , Johnson didn't have any regret for what he had done. Even if he would die because of his crime he didn't fear, to him life without his mother is meaningless he labeled himself a condemned prisoner eagerly he was waiting a day when would be called to be killed either by hanging or firing squad, the prison apartment was very small compared to the people in it, there was no space for the prisoners to sit comfortably.
As time went on, Johnson friendship with the other prisoners began to increase being someone who was highly endowed with charisma, he always make the other inmates excited for hours with his jokes.
Love continued to reign among the prison inmates, they did everything in Concord and harmony, with Johnson's jokes the prisoners always kept themselves busy but the main problem in the prison for Johnson was Nathaniel, for Nathaniel had tried many possible ways to kill him in the prison but nothing came out positively.
For over one year being spent in the Prison, Johnson didn't even get a single trial in court. One day, a man came for the release of his relative who was also in the same prison with Johnson, Johnson was shocked when he sighted the man.. the man happened to be his old university Lecturer.
The man had pity for Johnson when he narratee the story to him, the man remembered how Johnson was among the best students back then in MAYOR'S INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY. With the efforts of the man the case was brought to court for trial, on the appointed day Johnson was brought to court for trial. After two cases were treated that morning, the court clerk read out the case for Johnson Tarebi. The name sounded very familiar to the judge when the clerk called out the name, though the Judge didn't care more about the name, the court clerk retired to her seat after she had read out the case to be hearing of all and sundry in the court room. Immediately, two policemen who held Johnson at both sides brought him inside the courtroom, The Judge couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Johnson, he thought he was dreaming but wasn't, Johnson in his part couldn't also believe his eyes when he saw the Judge.
The Judge was no other person than"Isaac Ebi",his old university and Village friend and the same time his course-mate in the department of Civil Law. The Judge was fast enough to withdraw his eyes from Johnson's own when their eyes met. "Take the young man out,his case will be treated later,the judge said and ordered the clerk to read out the next case and Johnson was takem away from the courtroom, after the new case was finally treated, the judge called for a break.
During the break, he summoned members of the "JURY" and the two lawyers that was involved in the case of Johnson and Nathaniel, he called them for an urgent meeting and disclosed to them his relationship with Johnson and Nathaniel when they were in the university and beckoned on them to do him a favour and Judge in Johnson's favour. As their senior ranked learned colleague, they unanimously agreed to grant the Judge his request.
After the break, Johnson was brought in again with the usual handcuff in his wrist and was brought forward for the trial. Many who were present the case was adjourned to the after and people who knows the story that lingered to his arrest were surprised as the JURY came up with reasons why Johnson should go free without punishment. "With the evidence of the jury",the judge started, "I there give you all the judgment based on proves presented by them, the jury. I declare that this man is not guilty", he said.
" C-o-u-r-t!" the clerk shouted. Everybody stood up while the Judge left the courtroom, Johnson was immediately set free, the Police took off the handcuff from his wrist, after the court was over, Johnson and Isaac Embraced themselves firmly.
The tears of joy and sorrow began to feel down from Johnson's cheek and Isaac instantly gave Johnson a position of Junior colleague in his chamber and later trained him in the university to be civil lawyer fully.
" To live a life is never a problem, what becomes a problem is the after effect of the life lived or the consequences that comes out from living the life", Johnson said after his graduation party in the university.
,
How i wish that people, especially the youth will learn from my mistakes in life themselves before they can learn, Johnson whispered in a tremulous voice as tears flowed Majestically down from his cheeks.
Truly, THE JURY & THE JUDGMENT had made my mother's dream come true, he concluded.
Noted:The book is available in PDF form, contact me on +2348134693624 to get the PDF for free.
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Chapter 1 Scrimmage In Ijaw by Isaac Elagha.
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