Monday, 9 January 2017
Episode 8 and 9 The mischevious girl.
Barrister Demba: “This is my last will and testament, I swear that I am of a legal age, and I am in the right mental state.
The person who will inherit my assets and liabilities is the person who I have come to trust, and know that, this person will be able to carry on my legacy. That person is no other person than, my youngest wife, Bimpe Dambazzau. I implore the rest members of my family, to cooperate with her and respect my will. I leave all I have, to Bimpe Dambazzau” The barrister was reading, and everyone was hanging on his every word, so much that no one realized that Alhaja had fallen down.
Prison warder: “Help oh, she has fallen oh” he shouted, and that’s how the tension broke. Yusuf rushed to his mother, but the other wives and children screamed at the Barrister. “Why would she be given everything, you are working with her, ain’t it?” they said. Yusuf followed his mother into the Black Maria as she was rushed to the hospital. She was revived at the hospital, and from there to the prison.
Bimpe wasted no time in claiming her new assets; she went to the law firm and signed all the necessary documents. She also went to all the companies owned by Alhaji Dambazzau, the major company, which is Damoil, an oil exploration and refining company, she took on the position of CEO. During the company tour, she met Dominic and remembered his words on live television and at Alhaji’s funeral.
“I have to be careful with this one” she said to herself.
By the end of the day, Bimpe was exhausted; she was driven home by her new driver, who was once Alhaji’s driver. She had sacked all the body guards, they were useless to her. After all, it was one of them who killed Alhaji. When she alighted from the sleek black Range rover, which had been Alhaji’s, she met Yusuf on the terrace of her house. She quickened her pace when she saw him.
Bimpe: “Hello Yusuf, how are you doing?”
Yusuf: “I have not come here on a social call. You have my father’s entire assets now.Can you retract your statement against my mother?”
Bimpe: “What statement are you talking about? I have nothing to do with your mother’s situation” she said with a doll face.
Yusuf: “Cut the crap madam, I heard from a reliable source at the police station, that aside your open accusation of my mother, your statement to the police nailed her. Retract your statement”
Bimpe: “I will do anything you want. I want you. I have got money, I can give you whatever you need” she said edging closer to him. She pulled him by his shirt and kissed him. Yusuf overcame by his attraction to Bimpe, yielded to the kiss. Then he pushed her away, gently.
Yusuf: “I have my own money; I do not need that which you took by whatever means”
Bimpe: “Yusuf, I did not get these assets by illegal means” she said feigning anger. Yusuf just shook his head and began to leave.
Bimpe: “What if I make you the president of Dam Infotech, what would you say to that” Yusuf stood still for a few seconds, then he turned around and smiled.
Yusuf: “I would say you are making the right decision” he replied.
Bimpe: “I am too tired right now, let’s talk about this tomorrow” she said dismissing him.
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With Alhaji’s wealth at her disposal, Bimpe set about getting surgery for her father’s legs. As before, she sent an entourage to Ilisan, bearing goods, gifts and money .They were to bring her father to the city, where he would undergo surgery.
Ladejo: “I am not going anywhere with you unless I see my daughter” he said stubbornly.
Doctor: “You would see your daughter in the city” he replied.
So Ladejo was taken to Lagos, his wife Basirat accompanied him out of curiosity. She wanted to see what her daughter had become. The doctor intimated Bimpe about her father’s request; she didn’t want to see him, because she had groomed herself to be without feelings. That is the reason, she left home, not only because of the scandal, but also because, she didn’t want to have familial links that would dissuade her from the path that she had chosen. But now, she was thinking about Yusuf, always, and now, her father wanted to see her. Against her wish, she went to the hospital where he had been admitted, for preliminary checkups. Ladejo was dozing lightly, but opened his eyes the moment Bimpe entered.
Ladejo: “Adebimpe, how have you been? Tell me how you came about so much wealth”
Bimpe: “My late husband left it for me”
Ladejo: “Ha husband! Bimpe, you got married and we did not know about it?” her father said, his eyes widened.
Bimpe: “I am a bastard, you are not really my father, I am alone in this world, so alone I went into my husband’s house” she said walking to the window .Just then, her mother, Basirat entered the room.
Basirat: “Oko mi, I have…” she was saying and stopped on her tracks when she saw Bimpe standing by the window.
Bimpe: “Mother” she said simply, then turned to her father “I have to leave now, but you have to do as the doctor says, if all goes well, you will be walking in no time” she said and walked out of the hospital room, amidst protests from her father.
Bimpe was in the office of the CEO of Damoil, she was being coached about the running of the company by the president of the company, who was the next major shareholder after Bimpe. Then two policemen came in.
Bimpe: “What can I do for you?” she asked tentatively.
Detective 1: “The trial for the murder of Alhaji Dambazzau will commence tomorrow, and in the course of the trial, we want you as our principal witness” Bimpe got out of her seat and began to pace the office.
Bimpe: “If I testify, it will hinder my chances with Yusuf. But on the other hand, I have to see this thing through” she pondered within herself.
Detective 2: “Don’t think of rejecting, it is your civic duty to help uphold justice. So if you do not do it voluntarily, you will be forced by the court”
Bimpe: “Alright, I will do it”
Before the trial, the prison warden took Alhaja Zainab into the office of the director of prisons. There she saw the prosecutor and the two detectives seated opposite the director.
Director: “Alhaja, this is a high profile case, and it has the attention of the public. Save us the resources of a long trial, and plead guilty. The evidence is overwhelming, you know you did this, plead guilty and your sentence will be reduced”
Alhaja: “Why should I confess to a crime I did not commit?”
Prosecutor: “This case is a done deal, I will have a great time in court proving your guilt, but it is taxpayers’ money you are wasting madam. Think of your son, would you like all your dirty linen spread before the whole world. Take this deal and save us both the stress” Alhaja just kept her head down, her mind was in an uproar, and she was seeing many possibilities in her mind’s eye. At that moment, her lawyer, Barrister Ziggy, a senior advocate of Nigeria came in.
Barrister Ziggy: “When I was told that my client is not in her cell, I knew something was up. What are you people doing here”
Prosecutor: “Don’t raise your blood pressure; it is a standard plea bargain”
Barrister Ziggy: “You don’t fool me. You are scared of facing me in court. Your case is weak, you are banking on public opinion, but this is Nigeria, the jury does not decide what happens here. It all depends on your evidence, and I guess you have nothing solid”
Prosecutor: “On the contrary, I do have a solid case, it is a done deal. I was only offering her a life line. If she doesn’t take it, I am asking the judge for maximum sentence, that is life imprisonment”
Barrister Ziggy: “My client is innocent and I am ready to prove it. And no meeting with my client should be done without my consent, hitherto” he said glaring at them from his big round spectacles.
The trial started in earnest the next day, people began to pity Alhaja Zainab as she had deteriorated, her once glowing skin had become parched, her eyes had sunk into their sockets and she had emaciated. She stood in the defendant box, with her head down; her shoulders were hunched and pointing downward. It was the disposition of a defeated woman.
Court official: “Alhaja Zainab, you being charged with the murder of Alhaji Dambazzau, how do you plead?” The courtroom was silent, so much that if a pin fell on the floor, the sound would be heard by all.
Judge: “Madam, please answer the question. I have not got all day”
Alhaja raised her head and looked at her lawyer sitting alone at the defense table, he shook his head, he could already tell what her response would be, from the look in her eyes. He knew a defeated woman when he saw one.
Alhaja: “Guilty”.
The whole courtroom went into an uproar, people were shouting “ha haha”, they always suspected she killed Alhaji, but to have her agree to the crime was a surprise. Some began to throw invectives at her, calling her names like “murderess” “wicked woman” and sorts. Bimpe was in the court room, sitting behind the prosecutor’s table, where the other family was sitting. She had thought it would take a long trial to nail ALlhaja Zainab, but she had not expected that she would own up to the crime so easily.
Bimpe: “I guess people can do anything for the people they love” she whispered to herself, and turned to look at Yusuf, who was sitting a few feet away. Their eyes met and locked, Bimpe turned on her charms, putting on a sober face.
Judge: “Order in my court room” he said hitting the gavel.
Barrister Ziggy: “My lord, permit me to approach the bench” he said
Judge: “Approach”
Barrister Ziggy: “My lord, please allow us recess, so I can talk with my client”
Judge: “You have been talking with your client for weeks since this trial was scheduled, what else is left to say” the judge replied him, obviously irritated by the barrister’s airs.
Barrister Ziggy: “My client is not in the right frame of mind, she is crazy, even if she killed Alhaji, she did not know what she was doing”
Judge: “You do realize you are taking this trial to another dimension?”
Barrister Ziggy: “Allow me talk with my client just for 10 minutes”
Judge: “Court is in a ten minutes recess. Counsel, you can use any of the conference rooms for your discussion. Just 10 minutes” he said and hit the gavel.
The spectators in the court room stayed in place, they were not ready to miss any action. They watched as Barrister Ziggy led Alhaja Zainab to the back as the judge followed them. Yusuf made to follow them, then stopped and sat back. Bimpe walked up to him, and sat next to him.
Bimpe: “I know how you must be feeling, we do not know what led Alhaja to kill Alhaji, but she is still family and we would support her as much as we can”
Yusuf: “You pretender, since she was arrested, what have you done, except jubilate. Have you visited her even once?”
Bimpe: “I have not visited because, she wouldn’t appreciate it. I didn’t want to vex her so she wouldn’t say something that would complicate the case”
Yusuf: “My mother did not kill my father”
Bimpe: “She did. You have been away for so long, you don’t know what she is capable of. I don’t mean to badmouth her, but your mother is capable of so many terrible things. She is the reason; your father married me, to protect me from Alhaja. She sent thugs to my house to beat me, and they each took turns in raping me, I stayed in the hospital for a long time, and since then I still have post traumatic stress. How would he have known that she would turn around to kill him” she said and began to sob. There were camera flashes, and Yusuf turned to see reporters taping every word Bimpe was saying. He turned back in time to see Bimpe smiling. She turned sober immediately she saw Yusuf looking at her. Soon Barrister Ziggy led Ahaja Zainab into the courtroom, his face was gloomy.
Court Official: “Court rise” The reporters went back to their place and everyone stood up, to herald the entrance of the judge.
Judge: “Barrister Ziggy, what do you have to say, are you still pleading insanity?”
Barrister Ziggy: “Yes my lord, my client is not of a sound mental health. She does not know the gravity of what she has done”
Judge: “And you think, I will just take your word for it?”
Barrister Ziggy: “No my lord, I am ready and willing to prove it.
Prosecutor: “We have evidence to prove that she knew what she was doing, and pleading insanity is a way to escape the gravity of her crime” The judge thought for a short while, his eyes roaming the length and breadth of the courtroom, behind his spectacles.
Judge: “The case is adjourned till 14 February, and the defendant will remain in jail till the trial is concluded” he hit the gavel and stood up to leave. Alhaja zainab was led into the Black Maria, as the crowd waiting outside thronged to get a glimpse of her.
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Ladejo underwent a major surgery on his legs, and after the surgery, he stayed in the hospital for months. During this time, Bimpe did not go to see him,she sent gifts instead. But, Ladejo being the man he was, refused to accept the gifts, saying that, he had to see his daughter. After months of rehabilitation, he went back to Ilisan, praying that one day, the only daughter he has ever known would change her mind and come see him. Her step brothers, Dele, kunle and Afolayan all checked the road to their house every day, hoping to see their sister coming home. But they would be waiting a long time because; Bimpe had decided to stay away from them, even though she kept sending money for their upkeep and her siblings’ education.
Yusuf believed his mother killed Alhaji, nevertheless he still went to the prison to see her, and he loved her no less.
Yusuf: “You must have had your reasons for doing whatever you did. I won’t judge you, rather I will support you towards gaining your freedom. Barrister Ziggy promised that, claiming insanity was the fastest route to getting your freedom” he said on one of his visits. But like every other day, Alhaja did not reply a word.
Bimpe began to pursue Yusuf vehemently; she would go to the company where she had made him president, and bring him food she had cooked herself. She would also pick him up at the close of day and they have dinner at any exotic restaurant of her choice. At first, Yusuf was shutting her out, and refuting her advances, but soon he gave in. Bimpe was too beautiful to resist. With her full curves she tantalized him in body con dresses, and dazzled him with her one sided smiles, till he could not hold back. One evening, she bathed with Jasmine scented water, and oiled her body with her favorite Egyptian oil. This was her ritual, when she was ready to spend the night with the late Alhaji. And this night, she was determined she would spend it with his son, Yusuf. After her bathroom ritual, she slipped on black transparent lace lingerie, and threw on a mink coat over it. She set her sights and feet towards Alhaja’s house which Yusuf now occupied.
Yusuf was in the living room that his mother once occupied, all around him were emblems of her, pictures, her Koran, her favorite perfume smell. He felt a sense of melancholy, he felt useless. There was nothing he could do for his mother; she didn’t even want his help. She was languishing in jail, his father’s properties were in the hands of a total stranger, and he felt powerless to do anything. He stared into space, thoughtfully. Maybe there was something he could do, he thought. A knock came on the door, and it opened to reveal Bimpe, the woman he had been thinking of. Different emotions played on his face; hatred when he remembered his mother, alone in jail, on the verge of losing her mind, and lust when Bimpe unlashed her mink coat to reveal her creamy and luscious body.
Bimpe: “I know you want me” she said as she walked in and flung the coat away. Yusuf had his mouth open the entire time. His mind was telling him to send her away, but his body was already responding to her. The smell of her poison was intoxicating, and he could not wait to taste her venom.
Yusuf: “I have wanted you from the very first day I saw you” he said and pulled her to him. They began to tear each other apart. Like his father, he was able to get her body to respond to him, so she was unfettered, as they made love, right there on the living room floor. When they were both spent, Bimpe began to get up, but Yusuf pulled her back.
Yusuf: “Stay with me, tonight” he begged. Bimpe was surprised, and happy. She leaned in and kissed him, and that was how they started another round.
The sun streamed into the room, through the lace curtains, Yusuf woke up and realized that he was in the bed in the master bedroom, he wondered at what time of the night they made it to the bedroom, and surprised still, he turned and saw Bimpe sleeping peacefully, her hand wrapped around his waist. He was taken in by her soft features which were relaxed in sleep. He could see that she was really a young girl. He didn’t believe all the sinister things his stepmothers were telling him about her could be true. But he knew better… he had seen her conniving abilities, how hard her eyes could be, and how calculating she could be. He didn’t know when his hand left his side and was caressing her face. He was so engrossed that he didn’t realize that, Bimpe’s eyes were open and she was staring at him. And her eyes were not hard, but they looked dreamy, and she was looking at him like he was her god.
Yusuf: “I love…”
Bimpe: “I love you too, I never in my wildest dream believed that I would love someone again” she said and hugged him. Yusuf looked perplexed, she had gotten him wrong, he had wanted to say “I love your eyes”
Yusuf: “Oh” he sighed and pulled her away gently.
Bimpe: “See you later; I have got to get to the office. This is the first good sleep I have had in a long time” she said and kissed him, before prancing downstairs in her birthday suit. She stopped abruptly when she saw the second wife coming into the house.
Second wife: “What is going on here, eh Bimpe.Alhaji is no longer here, what are you doing here naked”
Question: How will Bimpe cover up after being caught by Second Wife? Bimpe is in love again, will this help her choose the right path, or will Yusuf be worse than Brian?
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