(Episode 10)
Bimpe came down and walked past her to where her lingerie was lying on the floor; she slipped it on and put the coat over it.
Bimpe: “I don’t see why I should give you any explanations. You are living here under my grace, or do you want me to throw you out?” she asked.
Second wife: “We will contest the will. You she-devil, I do not believe Alhaji would just give everything to you”
Bimpe: “Same way you don’t believe Alhaja killed Alhaji” she replied and walked away. She really wanted to start the day with the euphoria of her new found love, on a good day she would put the second wife with her saucy daughters in their place, which would be, out of the estate and any property Alhaji owned, she thought to herself.
Yusuf was right behind Bimpe coming down the stairs; he saw the second wife and wondered what she wanted, so early in the morning.
Second wife: “What are you doing with that witch? After everything I told you, you are frolicking with her?”
Yusuf: “It is nothing, I am a man, she offered, I accepted”
Second wife: “If it was sex you wanted, I would have arranged girls for you. Why dine with the enemy?”
Yusuf: “Uwa, leave that aside, what did you want?”
Second wife: “I just heard that you were made the president of one of the companies. I hope you know that you deserve to be the CEO not just President. So do not be satisfied with the bones she is throwing you from her table when you should be the king of the banquet” she said peering into Yusuf’s face.
Yusuf: “: You all are complaining so much, but you are not proffering any solutions”
Second wife: “It is the reason I have come” She moved closer and began to whisper into his ears, while Yusuf listened attentively.
Yusuf; “Alright, I have heard you” he said.
Second wife: “Keep your wits around you and in no time we will push her out” she said and left.
As weeks turned into months, and the old year slipped away, heralding the new, Bimpe’s love for Yusuf blossomed. They went to events together, were always seen with each other. Love thawed everywhere that had frozen over in Bimpe. She began to think about her stepfather and siblings.
Bimpe: “I should travel soon to Ilisan, I should see father and ask his forgiveness” she thought as she sat in her office. Another thing she was thinking about was giving some of the assets to Yusuf, she loved him and wanted him to be happy, and she wanted things to be right again. There was one more thing she wanted to do, but had no courage to.
Bimpe: “How would I enjoy my love for Yusuf, if I did that” she pondered and shook her head vehemently, refusing the idea. She was still in deep thoughts, when a knock came on the door, the door opened and a big bouquet of flowers was carried in by the porter.
Bimpe: “What is this?” she asked quizzically
Porter: “The deliveryman brought it, it is for you”. Bimpe walked out from behind her mahogany desk, and opened the note that accompanied the bouquet.
Yusuf: “Honey, join me for dinner. I will send a limo to pick you up by 7pm. happy valentine” she read as a smile spread slowly on her face, like a flower opening up to the kiss of the sun.
Bimpe: “Oh my God, I totally forgot today” she shoved the note into her bag and rushed out of the office. She called her driver to turn the car around as she entered the elevator. She had just three hours to shop for a dress and a gift for Yusuf. She drove into city mall and rushed through every shop looking for the perfect dress.
At 7pm, a Limo pulled up in front of Bimpe‘s house, she came out when the driver honked. She was clad in a turquoise blue mermaid dress; the bodice was a faux wrap. Her long endless neck swept into a full creamy cleavage. Saying she was exquisite was a gross understatement. She entered the Limo, hoping to see Yusuf inside, but he was nowhere to be found.
Driver: “He will be joining you at the restaurant” he said, seeing her look around, frantic. On their way, the car stopped.
Bimpe: “What is going on?” she asked with an uneasy feeling in her stomach.
Driver: “The car just stopped” he said as he alighted the car and went to the front 0f the car. Bimpe became perplexed; this car was going to ruin her dinner. She sat in for a few minutes before she left the car. Behold, the driver was nowhere to be found. She was all alone. She brought out her phone to call Yusuf. She called several times, but he did not pick up.
Back in Bimpe’s house, two men dressed in hooded sweatshirts, began searching her house from the living room to the bedrooms. They turned everything upside down. While they were still searching, Yusuf walked in.
Yusuf: “What is going on, haven’t you guys seen it yet?” he asked anxiously looking at his phone.
Man 1: “We are searching blind, what we need to do, is up our game. You are the president of a tech company; we need some technology in here”
Yusuf: “What do you guys have in mind?”
Man 2: “I say we wire this place up, with a surveillance camera. She will lead us to what we are looking for”
Yusuf: “I like the idea. Tomorrow, I will call you guys; so it is up to you guys”
Man 1: “You can count on us” he said and his partner nodded in affirmation.
Bimpe was still standing on the road helplessly; she was used to having her drivers take her around, she tried downloading the Uber app, but unfortunately for her, the area she was in, had poor coverage.
Bimpe: “What is going on here? Kini mo se? Why do I always get into such situations?” she said on the brink of tears. Then a Range rover pulled in and stopped in front of her, the tinted window rolled down and an elderly man beckoned to Bimpe. Bimpe looked at him and scoffed.
Bimpe: “If you want to talk to me, you will bring your ass here” she whispered to herself and continued fiddling her phone. The man stepped out of the car and walked up to Bimpe.
Man: “Hello lady, why are you standing out here at this time, beside a limo?”
Bimpe: “I don’t know where my driver is, and he said the Limo just stopped.” She said
Man: “Come into my car; let me give you a ride”
Bimpe: “If you insist” she said and followed him to the car. While they were in transit, Bimpe kept to herself, her face turned towards the window. Her mind was worried; Yusuf did not call her back. She wondered what he was doing and why he was not looking for her.
Bimpe: “I hope he is alright” she worried.
Man: “I am Chief Bamigboye, who is this pretty lady?”
Bimpe: “Bimpe, CEO Damoil, CEO Cytron informatics, CEO DamInfotech” she said and watched the smile spread across his face.
Chief Bamigboye: “That is impressive, I am beyond impressed. I am always relaxed when I meet a made woman, I know she is not after my money”
Bimpe: “I am not after your anything; I am not interested in anything you have to offer except business”
Chief Bamigboye: “I am sure there is a way we both can make money. I will like us to partner in a project. There is a fashion event, The Lagos Fashion Week; I will like us to co sponsor”
Bimpe: “What do I get from this?”
Chief Bamigboye: “A lot, trust me. Let me have your card, so I will visit your offices one of these days. We can meet with your advisory team and we fashion out a partnership”
Bimpe: “Interesting” she pulled out a gold embossed card and pressed it into his palm.
When Bimpe got home, she heard Yusuf was in a minor accident, she rushed to the house, and there he was, lying on the living room couch, with his head bandaged.
Bimpe: “Honey!” she exclaimed, frightened. She rushed to him and embraced him. “How are you doing” she asked.
Yusuf: “I am so sorry; this had to happen on Valentine’s Day”
Bimpe: “It doesn’t matter, you are safe, and that’s all that matters to me” she kissed his bandaged fore-head.
And that was how the issue closed; Bimpe did not bother asking about the driver who disappeared into thin air. She was like a stranger in the midst of cannibals, waiting for dinner, not knowing that she is the dinner.
============================
Yusuf and his goons, through the surveillance camera found out the location of the documents they were looking for. It was in a safe and they also found the code because they watched her when she opened the safe. So, Yusuf took Bimpe out to dinner at Lagos waterside restaurant, so that his goons could get the documents he needed from Bimpe’s safe. The entire time, he was restless, and Bimpe noticed it all. She wondered what was going on. Her instinct told her something serious was up, but she ignored it and went about trying to cheer him up. He excused himself to the restroom. There, he brought out his phone and called his goons.
Yusuf: “Is it done?”
Man 1: “Yes, we got everything, the share certificates, the documents to the estate and other properties, we got everything” the man replied. Yusuf hung up and pumped his fist.
Yusuf: “Yes!” he exclaimed, truly happy for the news.
Question: “What is going to happen to Bimpe, now that they have got everything from her?”
[22:10, 1/9/2017] Obinnnna: (Episode 11) Wrong turn. A fatal attraction.
Yusuf, determined to complete his plans, took Bimpe on a two day vacation, he told her it was to make up for the Valentine dinner they missed. Bimpe had never been pampered this way all her life. They had servants to wait on them, breakfast was served in bed. They were in Montego bay, the rich culture and atmosphere made Bimpe pliant to Yusuf’s whims. She loved him more every day, and could not wait for him to propose to her. She had even decided to use her influence to intervene in Alhaja’s case. She knew it was Alhaji’s friends that were pushing for Alhaja to be convicted; she could make them a sweet deal they wouldn’t resist, so they could back off her case. Unknown to her, Yusuf was lacing her drinks with drugs, so all the giddiness she was feeling, wasn’t only due to her new found love, but also due to the drugs he was pumping into her through her drinks. That evening, they had a candlelight dinner on the private beach that came with the holiday cottage they had leased. Yusuf kept giving her glass after glass of wine, which were all laced with drugs.
Bimpe: “I feel so giddy, come on, let’s go inside, we didn’t just come here to wine and dine right?” Since, Yusuf put his plans into action; he stayed away from making love to her. Bimpe was like sweet venom to him, if he drank, it would invade his system, and like snake venom, paralyze him. His family was counting on him to take back what rightfully belonged to them.
Yusuf: “I want you so much, but there is a deal I want for the company, it is going to rake in millions of naira, I need your signature on it”
Bimpe: “Can’t we do that when you go back home?”
Yusuf: “Time is of the essence, I have to fax it back to the office”
Bimpe(drowsily): “Alright, let me have it” they went in and Yusuf presented the document to her. She tried reading, but she was already falling asleep, so she just flipped the paper to the end and appended her signature on the document, signing away all her inheritance from Alhaji. Immediately, the pen fell off her hand as she tumbled into bed and fell fast asleep.
Yusuf: “Yes”! Now, he could have his last sex with her, he thought.
Bimpe noticed that Yusuf had changed since they got back from their vacation; he didn’t pick her call, and never returned it. She also could not see him, as the housekeeper always told her that Yusuf was not in the house. On the day that they had planned to evict Bimpe from the house, Bimpe decided to go to DamInfotech before reaching her office, she wanted to know what was up with Yusuf, and also discuss the deal he told her about on their vacation. When he got to the office of the president of DamInfotech ,he met Yusuf absence, she wanted to leave when her eyes caught on a file jacket on the table. Out of curiosity, she opened it, and behold it was the document she had signed.
Bimpe: “Let me see what this deal is all about” she said and settled in the chair. She began to read, and her eyes bilged out of their socket.
Bimpe: “Mo kun, what is this?” she immediately called Barrister Demba and told him all she had read.
Barrister Demba: “You have to destroy that document immediately and hope that there are not photocopies. But most important of all, you have to get back those share certificates and property documents by any means possible”
Bimpe: “I will get back to you” she hung up and shredded the document to pieces. Her heart was broken, it was obvious to her that Yusuf had deceived her; he had found her weakness and used it against her.
Bimpe: “Perhaps, I was not destined to find love. I was not born through love, even my father rejected me, and he didn’t want me. Alhaji didn’t love me either, he just loved my body, what about Brian, he played me because I was naïve” Tears streamed down her cheeks, she held the mahogany desk to support herself because her legs had gone weak.
Bimpe: “But never again. Fool me once, shame on you, but fool me twice, shame on me. Yusuf will feel my sting, it will hurt more than a scorpion’s” she said and brought out her cell phone.
Yusuf had avoided the office because he had met with some business associates of his late father; he intimated them of the hostile takeover he was planning against Bimpe. But he didn’t get the response he needed. They actually liked the way Bimpe was handling the companies, their profit margin had increased since she came on board. This was because, where Alhaji had been archaic, Bimpe was open to innovation, she was not a graduate, but you could tell she had high intelligence quotient. So, they wanted Bimpe and disagreed with Yusuf’s plan. Besides they were loyal to their late friend and wanted his will to be upheld. But Yusuf didn’t care much for their opinion, he had wanted their support, but he could do without it, it was his father’s properties, they were just shareholders, not family. He came out of the hotel where the meeting had been held, and entered his car. As he was driving, he was oblivious of the car tailing him behind. When they got to a side road that would connect him to the express road, a car drove so close to him like it was trying to run him off the road. He was still wondering if the driver was drunk when the car maneuvered to the front and parked across him. But he could say “Jack”, three burly men jumped out of the black sedan and broke his windscreen with the butt of the pistol in their hands. One opened the door and dragged Yusuf out.
Yusuf: “How much do you want? Is it money, I will give you” he said and one of the men hit him on the mouth with his gun. His lip broke and spurted blood.
Man 1: “You have something that belongs to us, give it back and you are free to go. But if you don’t, it is a long, painful way to death. And your mother will see hell in prison. Right we have someone on the inside who will rape her to death.” The man said with a toothy smile that was frightening.
The sedan door opened, and Bimpe stepped out. She had traded her power suit, for a pair of distressed denim with a military camouflaged tee shirt.
Yusuf: “Bimpe?” he was discombobulated.
Bimpe: “Surprise! Well now Yusuf, you heard the man. I want back what you stole. I want you to know that you got everything to lose. I on the other hand still have the will, besides you are not leaving this place alive if you don’t give me back what I want.” Yusuf could not string words together, his tongue was tied, and his eyes bulged out of their socket. He could not fathom how Bimpe found out about his plan.
Bimpe: “Also, I saw the document you deceived me into signing, it is destroyed by the way. So when I say you have everything to lose, I mean it. Because your game is up, and the last and only card you can play right now, is to hand over all you stole” she said, her eyes dark and fiery with rage.
Yusuf: “It is in my house, in the safe”
Bimpe: “Did you change the code of the safe?”
Yusuf: “Yes. The code is 46357”
Bimpe: “I was good to you. I even allowed you stay in Alhaji’s house, it is the biggest. But in spite of my late husband wiling everything to me, I still gave you the respect as the first son. I was stupidly in love with you, and was ready to hand over the assets to you, I thought you loved me. But you are as treacherous as your mother and you will pay for this” She said. Turning to the men, she nodded her head and they stuffed Yusuf into the boot of their car.
Bimpe called her driver, who came and drove her to the estate. She asked the security to open the door to Yusuf’s house. She got in and walked straight to the safe, Alhaji usually kept his important documents in there, when he was alive. She typed the code and turned the dial; it made a clicking sound and opened. There were all the documents of her inheritance. She thought of Yusuf treachery and was so vexed in her spirit that, her heart became cold. She vowed never to let it get warm again.
It was February 24 , and the day that the case of the murder of Alhaji would be resumed. Alhaja would be tried on the basis of insanity. During the break, Barrister went about paying people who would testify that Alhaja had nervous breakdowns in their presence, he also paid medical experts who would testify that Alhaja was mentally unstable.
That morning, the court filled up to full capacity, the festive period of the just concluded year did not affect the public’s memory of the murder that shook Lagos. They were here to see justice served. Alhaja was led in by the prison warden, who took her to the defendant booth. Today she was not dressed in prison garb; her son had brought her a black pair of pants, with a cream blouse. Bur her look of defeat could not be changed, she walked with her head down, and her shoulders stooped. Her son was absent because, Bimpe kept him locked up in a safe house. The other wives and their children had been chased out of the estate, so none was present at the court. They feared Bimpe greatly.
Court official: “Court rise” he bellowed. The judge walked him and hit the gavel.
Judge: “We are going to try this case based on the defendant sanity. The defendant pleaded guilty to the murder, but under the influence of insanity. Prosecutor and defense counsel, design your arguments towards proving her insanity or sanity. Nobody should come here to waste my time, ok?”
Prosecutor: “I am going to call on my first witness, Mrs. Bimpe Dambazzau to come to the stand. The court official took her oath and handed her over to the prosecutor.
Prosecutor: “You are under oath; therefore I do not need to tell you that you have to be honest. What has been Alhaja’s disposition since you were married into the family? Bimpe smiled in her heart, where before she had been hesitant and even ready to influence the court to Alhaja’s favor, she was now ready to nail Alhaja. She told herself she was foolish for allowing Yusuf creep into her heart and dissuade her from her plans.
Prosecutor: “I asked a question”
Judge: “Madam answer the question”
Bimpe: “She was angry, she hated me, but she hated Alhaji more. He neglected them; he was so taken by me that he rarely had time for her. While Alhaji was still courting me, Alhaja sent men to my house, they beat me and each took turns to rape me” she broke down and began to cry.
Question: “Will Bimpe succeed in destroying Alhaja completely? Find out the court’s judgment in the next episode.
[22:11, 1/9/2017] Obinnnna: (Episode 12) Wrong turn. A fatal attraction.
Judge: “Go ahead” he said with little patience. The prosecutor looked at him and wondered what fire was under his ass. He took a piece of tissue paper and gave it to Bimpe to wipe her face.
Prosecutor: “Did Alhaji know about this incident?”
Bimpe(sniffs): “Yes. He did. He met me at the hospital; it was at the hospital he decided to marry me. He thought by marrying me, Alhaja would back off and see me as a fellow wife. How would we have known that she would kill him for this?”
Alhaja: “I wish I killed you then” she said plainly in a small voice that was audible in the quiet courtroom. The courtroom erupted into an uproar, people flung invectives at her, and Alhaja looked on with surprise, it was like she did not know when the word came out of her mouth. Bimpe began to act like she was scared, she began to tremble and shake in fear.
Bimpe: “Please don’t let her out, she is a killer. She is not mad; she knows what she is doing. Jealousy pushed her to this, yes, and greed too. Even after she had killed our husband, she was boasting of getting the lion share and throwing me out into the street.” Bimpe said hysterically.
“Yes”! A woman in the crowd shouted
“Don’t let her out!” another bellowed.
Court official: “Order!” he exclaimed.
Prosecutor: “No further questions” he bowed and went back to his seat.
Judge: “Defense counsel?”
Barrister Ziggy walked up to the witness box and peered into Bimpe’s face
Barrister Ziggy: “Did you kill Alhaji Dambazzau?”
Prosecutor: “Objection my lord!”
Judge: “Sustained, counselor, you asked us to try this case based on insanity, and you must pattern your interrogation to that. If you have no questions, save us the wastage of time and sit down” he said lowering his spectacles to peer at Barrister Ziggy.
Barrister Ziggy: “Alright. Why are you sure Alhaja committed the crime while being sane, are you a psychiatrist?”
Bimpe: “Perhaps not, but an insane woman does not threaten to throw you out and leave you with nothing. It is clear for all to see, all except you, that she killed Alhaji for his wealth and for marrying a girl such as I am” she replied vehemently, the pain of Yusuf’s betrayal choking the words in her throat. She began to sob.
Barrister Ziggy: “Why are you crying?”
Bimpe: “I am crying because, we are here arguing the sanity of Alhaji’s murderer, while he lies cold in the ground. And probably she is going to walk free or worst, be in an asylum for a few months and get out with her connection. Neither me nor the ones who love Alhaji and is supporting justice to be served will be safe. You heard her, if she has the chance again, she would kill me” she said sniffing back the phlegm that pooled under her nose.
The lawyer was dumbfounded, he was getting convinced that Alhaja killed Alhaji, and his mind could not fashion a rebuttal. He realized he made a gross mistake allowing the case to be tried under insanity, if only his client had not pleaded guilty, he would have had a chance to turn the case and set her free, now, who would believe she was insane?
Barrister Ziggy: “No further questions” he went docilely to his seat, while Alhaja just looked on, passively.
Judge:”Prosecutor?”
Prosecutor: “No more witnesses”
Judge: “Over to you defense counsel”
Barrister Ziggy: “I call on Doctor Obiora to come to the stand” A doctor, who was a psychiatrist came to the stand and gave a testimony of how he examined Alhaja and took her through some cognitive test and how she is without remorse because she is in a dream world and doesn’t know she was killing Alhaji. He ruled her as schizophrenic with multiple personality disorder.
Judge: “Case is adjourned till further notice” he banged the gavel.
Barrister Ziggy: “My lord, please give us a definite date”
Judge: “The court clerk will communicate the date to you” he said and left the court.
Bimpe entered her car and was driven away. She went to the safe house where Yusuf was locked up.
Bodyguard: “Madam, what is to be done with him? I say we waste him”
Bimpe: “Don’t you ever, contemplate such nonsense. Release him, he can find his way back or not. But I will not stain my hand with his blood” she said and watched as they untied him. She left when she was sure he was safe.
Bimpe decided that the estate was too big for her alone. She decided it was time to bring her family from Ilisan. Her brother, the eldest of the boys, Dele was about to write his senior WAEC, and she wanted him to school in Lagos. She hoped he would not take the path she had taken. She sent an entourage to Ilisan to bring her family to come live in the estate. She had decided that the moment they moved in, she would move out. Ladejo agreed to relocate to Lagos; he would give anything to be close with his daughter again. But he was in for a shock.
A new president who was loyal to Bimpe was appointed to fill the vacancy that Yusuf left. Yusuf after his ordeal went into obscurity, with his tail between his legs. But he went about looking for help for his mother. He fired Barrister Ziggy because despite his titles and clout, he was not achieving much result. He hired another lawyer who was able to arrange a private bail hearing. The judge decided that, since the case was being tried on the basis of insanity, she would not be bailed, but removed from prison and sent to a mental institute. Yusuf took the offer because he was scared of what Bimpe would do to her mother in prison.
Bimpe was in the board room with her advisory team, they were brainstorming on a new project when her executive secretary came to whisper in her ear that one Chief Bamigboye was outside wanting to see him. Bimpe thought that she should send him away for having the effrontery to come to the office without calling her, or booking an appointment. But reason won, and she decided that the profit from his partnership was worth more than her ego.
Bimpe: “Send him in, we might as well just deliberate on the idea now” she said and briefed her team about the fashion week the company was supposed to sponsor with Chief Bamigboye. She was still talking when Chief Bamigboye entered with another young man. Bimpe told them to take their seat without looking, and when they did, she was taken aback. On the face of the young man was utter surprise, he had his mouth open.
Chief Bamigboye: “Do you two know each other?”
Bimpe: “Yes we do, too well. Let’s just say Brian is the reason I am here today. I have him to thank for my success” she said with a sly grin.
Chief Bamigboye: “That is good. That might be the only good thing my son has ever done in his life” he replied with a grin.
Bimpe: “Now back to business, Chief Bamigboye, yes I remember your name; I actually did a research on you, got to know my business partner. How the fact that you are the father of Brian, escaped me, is what I cannot tell. By the way, Oyinda was my best friend in the University” she said all these looking intently on Brian, who looked like the ground should open and he be swallowed.
Chief Bamigboye: “Oh yes, it is good that you are a friend of the family, because I want us to have a long and lasting relationship” Bimpe thought he was lusting after her, like all men did when they met her. But when she looked at his face, there was no sign of lust, then her eyes went to Brian’s finger and she saw he had no wedding band, and she understood what Chief Bamigboye was talking about. She smiled coyly, the wheels of her mind were already turning.
Bimpe: “So chief, tell us about this deal” she said and Chief Bamigboye began to intimate them about the deal and what the company would achieve. The members of the advisory team agreed it was a very good business opportunity. Bimpe approved and they set about executing the project. Chief Bamigboye also invited Bimpe to a family dinner with his family. Bimpe welcomed the invitation, as it was good for her plans.
That evening she dressed in a simple LBD(Little black dress), with a string of pearls around her neck as the single jewelry. She pulled her hair up in a French twist to accentuate her long neck, she was ready to dazzle at that dinner. She could not wait to see Oyinda and show her how up the ladder she had come. Chief Bamigboye, wanting to impress the boss lady, sent a Limousine to pick her up at the estate. She was impressed with the Bamigboyes’ mansion, she felt nostalgic seeing the house. She would have come to this house, years ago, but it was not to be, Brian didn’t want her, or his child she was carrying. She walked in majestically, and told herself that as her feet had crossed the threshold, she would not leave this family until she was done with her purpose, Brian destroyed her chance of happiness and she was going to make sure he did not have any happiness himself.
But first, she had to have the dinner, she would learn a lot tonight…
Question: What does Bimpe have in Store for the Bamigboyes, and for Brian especially who took her virginity, her heart and flung it back in her face.
[22:11, 1/9/2017] Obinnnna: (Episode 13) Wrong turn. A fatal attraction.
Chief Bamigboye: “Welcome my dear, to our humble abode”
Bimpe: “There is nothing humble about this mansion, but I appreciate your modesty.” She replied with a small smile. Oyinda came down the stairs at that moment, her mouth was agape.
Oyinda: “Is this you, Bimpe?” she rushed down and came to embrace her. Chief Bamigboye smiled at this.
Bimpe: “It has been so long, how are you doing?” she said
Oyinda: “Nothing much ore mi. seriously, we need to talk babe”
Bimpe: “We will do a lot of talking tonight won’t we?” she said with an intense look in her eyes.
The house keeper told them dinner was set, and they all walked to the dining room. The room had the touch of a woman, but Bimpe knew it was not Oyinda.
Bimpe: “Is the madam of the house not at home, I can’t wait to meet her, she has a beautiful home” Everywhere became silent, at that point, Brian walked in.
Brian: “The temperature in this room can freeze my balls” he said, as he took a seat
Chief Bamigboye: “My wife is late, she died few months ago, and she was suffering from Thrombosis cancer. It is the reason I want you to marry my son Brian”
Bimpe: “Wow”
Oyinda: “Wow indeed, take a chill pill dad. Did you ask Brian if he wanted to marry Bimpe?” Bimpe looked at her, and the realization hit her: Oyinda still saw her as beneath her, despite the wealth she had acquired. She also realized that even before, despite her pregnancy, Oyinda never wanted her as a sister-in-law. As soon as the issue of marriage was raised, she had turned into a fighting cat. Brian looked at her and smiled, he probably thought she was still in love with him. If only he knew.
Bimpe: “When I met Brian, he had a fiancée who was coming in from the United States, what happened to her” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Chief Bamigboye: “Brian had a fiancée? I surely did not know about that” he looked at his children with a questioning look, they both kept their eyes down. Another truth dawned on Bimpe. That cock and bull story Brian told her when he rejected her pregnancy was just that… a cock and bull story. Brian had broken her heart and her life for nothing. She got up abruptly.
Bimpe: “Please I need the rest room” she said and Oyinda offered to go with her.
Oyinda: “My father is a funny man; you must not listen to him”
Bimpe: “Why not, he is a very wise man, and I like him”
Oyinda: “Really. Well, you are not planning to marry Brian, are you?”
Bimpe: “I think you should concentrate on what you would do, than what I would do.” She said and continued washing her hand. Oyinda pulled Bimpe and turned to face her.
Oyinda: “Brian did not want you to marry him then, and he doesn’t want to now. Get over him already. I thought you were in a relationship with Dominic, what happened to him. Forget about my brother” Bimpe folded her fist and punched Oyinda on the mouth.
Bimpe: “You bitch, this is not the same Bimpe you knew, watch yourself around me. And if I want your brother as husband, I would get him, but do I need your brother, that good for nothing loser?” she sighed. Oyinda looked on helplessly as Bimpe wiped her broken mouth, and pushed her forward out of the restroom.
Chief Bamigboye: “oyinda, what happened to your mouth?”
Oyinda: “She…” but Bimpe cut her off.
Bimpe: “she tripped and fell. She was so happy to catch up with what have been going on with me, she didn’t notice the floor” she replied Chief, then turned to wink at Oyinda who had her mouth agape. Brian smiled, he was thinking of the proposal his father had made on his behalf. He liked this Bimpe he was seeing, she was classy and rich. If only he knew.
=================================
Ladejo brought his family to Lagos, to live in the estate. That night they had a family dinner, where Bimpe tried to catch up with her siblings’ life and education.
Dele: “Aunty mi, your house is fine oh”
Basirat: “Yes it is, but how did you come about it.”
Bimpe: “I do business, I have a lot of companies, assets, so this house is just a tip of the ice berg” she replied.
Basirat: “But how did you acquire them?”
Bimpe: “Mother! This dinner is not to satisfy your curiosity. It is to know about my siblings. Ba mi, I have been thinking, that you could start a real estate company. You can only occupy one house; there are others worth over millions. It is a good start for your real estate company. I will employ a business consultant in real estate to meet with you”. She said and stood up, unable to stand her mother’s judging eyes.
Bimpe: “You think i did prostitution? No,i was able to recognize opportunity when i saw it, smartness and God got me here. I am not worth his love, but he continually favors me,he fights for me even when i don’t know it, so don’t sit there and judge me!” she turned and walked out.
Back in Ilisan, a man came to the quiet community, going around asking for Basirat, he gathered the snippets of Information he could about her. He found out she was married, but gave birth to his daughter. They also told him of the bastard who decided to walk in the path of her mother, that she even did an abortion that almost claimed her life. This broke the stranger’s heart, but what broke his heart was the fact that no one knew where Basirat and her family had relocated to. They even told him that the bastard daughter was the first to leave. She could not withstand the scandal of her abortion; she left the village and was never seen again. The stranger, after spending days in Ilisan, without making headway, he left.
Somewhere in Lagos, Dominic was working with a private investigator. He had a folder full with findings, and the front was marked “Bimpe”.
Investigator: “It is too early to make a move. Patience, bro”
Dominic: “Just a little more, I cannot wait to bring her down” he said angrily. The investigator looked at him with a weird look on his face.
Investigator: “Excuse me, I have to make a call” he said and went out of the room. He dialed a number in his phone and stuck it to his ears.
Investigator: “I will do as you have said” he said after listening for a while. He went back inside and asked Dominic to hand over all the evidence he had with him, as he had to study them and build their case. Dominic was hesitant to hand over his file, but he convinced himself he could trust the investigator, he had been with him from the beginning, when he first had his suspicions.
Dominic: “I do not need to over emphasize the need for caution, this is all we have”
Investigator: “of course” he replied and stuffed the folder in his port folio. The investigator before entering his car, removed the sim card from his phone, and smashed it under his foot. He turned back and looked towards the house where he had come from.
Investigator: “You are lucky to be alive, i hope you abandon this project.These men are powerful” he said aloud before entering his car, and driving away.
At the same time, Dominic received a phone call; he thought it was the investigator.
Dominic: “Did you forget something?” he said
Caller: “Listen carefully, you have been allowed to go Scot free and unscathed for this adventure you have just completed. But our eyes are on you, make a wrong step, and you will kiss this world goodbye” the caller said and hung up. Dominic began to fidget, he had thought he was doing an undercover investigation, and at the right time, he would carry his findings to the police covertly. He wondered who would have exposed what he was doing. He thought of the investigator, and dialed his number. The operator told him the number was not available.
Dominic: “No, no, no, it cannot be” he said and fell on the ground, frustration brought tears to her eyes.
Alhaja was not crazy when she was sent to the mental institute to await trial, but after a little while, about a week in there, she was beginning to lose her mind. Every day she sat on the window sill in her room and looked downstairs. Her room overlooked the garden, and when she saw how freely the shrubs and flowers opened their veins to the breeze and the sun, she wished for her freedom again. She told herself, she was going to end up deranged and rot away like a flower kept in a dark cupboard. Every day, she died a little more; she refused talking to anyone, even her son. A specialist was called to review her case and have sessions with Alhaja, but all to no avail. Alhaja was dying a special kind of death, and she would not last in that mental home.
Brian had a talk with his father, the latter told him the only way he could access his trust fund was if he got married to Bimpe.
Chief Bamigboye: “She is a made woman,not the gold digging bitches, she is intelligent, marrying her will be profitable, it would make our business empire stronger. You have to marry her.”
Brian started by sending gifts to Bimpe’s office, like boxes of black chocolate, he knew most women loved chocolate, on other days he would send huge bouquet of yellow roses, even dresses and lingerie. Bimpe received all his gifts with open arms. Finally, he invited her for a private dinner. He rented out the whole of Spice Bowl, a restaurant in Lekki, he even invited a guitar band to serenade them. As soon as they sat down, the waiter brought two glass of coldstone cream. Bimpe had a weakness for ice cream and Brian knew this, so she dug into the ice cream immediately it was put in front of her. Brian took few spoons of his, while looking at her intently. No matter how slow he was eating his, Bimpe was gulping hers and the glass was almost empty, and yet nothing was amiss. Then he choked on metal, he spat it out on the table. Bimpe was going to ask him what the matter was, when her eyes fell on the object he had spit out. A shiny piece of diamond ring lay on the table; it was stained with ice cream. It dawned on Bimpe what Brian had tried to do, but somehow it had fallen apart. She burst into laughter.
Brian: “Don’t laugh, people are daft, how couldn’t they notice the glass which held the ring” he said, obviously upset.
Bimpe: “Stupid man, now you want to be romantic and propose in a stylish way. Did you forget how you threw me out of your life? You even concocted a story just so you could be free of me. Now you have seen what I have become and want to marry me? Life has got a great sense of humor” she said in her heart, as she looked at Brian intently. He cleaned up the ring and went on his kneels holding the beautiful diamond ring in his hands.
Brian: “Marry me”
Question: Will Bimpe say yes?
[22:11, 1/9/2017] Obinnnna: (Episode 14)Wrong turn. A fatal attraction.
Bimpe acted surprised; she hung her mouth open, and held her mouth open.
Brian: “I know I wronged you in the past, but I was scared, the shock of the news, forgive me and be my wife”
Bimpe: “Yea! I will marry you. This has always been my sincere wish. I never stopped loving you” she said and stretched out her hand. Brian congratulated himself inwardly, despite what he did to her, she was still falling prey to him, and he told himself that as soon as they got married, he would take control of the companies and relegate Bimpe to the background. Besides, his father would be happy he has achieved this feat and he would leave the family business and assets to him. He told himself, that he would merge both assets into a formidable conglomerate. Bimpe wanted marriage with him, but she shouldn’t expect him to be in the marriage, she would end up a cold, deserted woman. He would travel the world with different women, and live his life to the fullest. Yes he was a smooth operator, he congratulated himself. He was so lost in his thoughts, that he did not realize that Bimpe’s hand was still hanging and he was yet to slip ring on her finger.
Bimpe: “Tomorrow, somebody will come and tell me money is not important, see how this one wants to force himself on me because I have money. It won’t work” she thought as she watched the different emotions that played on Brian’s face. She cleared her throat loudly to bring him out of his thoughts.
Bimpe: “Earth to Brian. What are you thinking about so intently?”
Brian: “Oh nothing, I am thinking how foolish I was, and did not realize I had gold, I threw away gold to pick pebbles” he replied and went ahead to slip the ring on her finger. Bimpe twirled her fingers this way and that way. She realized that the diamond did not refract the light as a true diamond should.
Bimpe: “This man is cheap oh, so that is all I am worth to this useless man, a cheap diamond” she thought within as she stared at the ring.
Bimpe and Brian announced their engagement to the rest of the Bamigboyes family at a dinner they had in honor of Bimpe.
Brian: “Meet the latest couple, Brian and Bimpe” he said, while Bimple wiggled her hand for all to see. They had invited guest like relatives, and everyone was amazed that Brian was engaged to a beautiful and successful business woman.
Bimpe: “I have an announcement to make” she said
Oyinda: “Not before I make mine. Listen up Brian, Bimpe is not right for you, ask her where she kept your pregnancy, the child, where is the child”
Brian: “So that is how Oyinda want to stupidly put sand in my well prepared garri? Iro oh” he thought as everyone fell silent and looked at Bimpe.
Brian: “What are you talking about Oyinda, aburo mi are you alright?”
Oyinda: “Brian, you don’t remember, or you are trying to be dubious”
Brian: “I agree that Bimpe and I dated, but we were never intimate, she always insisted I married her before we have sex. She was traditional like that. It was the reason we broke up, I was foolish, I let go of gold because it was still unrefined” he replied, to Oyinda’s amazement.
Oyinda: “Ha Brian” she said surprised.
Chief Bamigboye: “Eh eh Oyinda, instead of trying to sabotage your brother’s marriage, you should try getting that Raga Murphy boyfriend of yours, to put a ring on that finger”
Brian: “She probably has my best interest at heart, dad”
Chief Bamigboye: “Bimpe my daughter, I will like to come see your parents so that we can fix the date”
Bimpe turned sober and soon began to sob silently. Everyone looked at her, amazed.
Chief Bamigboye: “My dear, did I offend you in anyway?”
Bimpe: “No, you did not. You only reminded me of the thing that wets my pillow at night” she sniffed. Oyinda looked at her and wondered what other game Bimpe was up to.
Chief Bamigboye: “Kilonsele Adebimpe?” he called her fondly.
Bimpe: “My parents and my siblings died in a plane crash, they were on their way to meet me in England” she began to bawl loudly. Chief Bamigboye walked up to her and embraced her, she leaned into him, and the latter became disoriented.
Chief Bamigboye: “Don’t cry again my dear; you have a new family now. I promise you, you will never be alone anymore” he said still holding on to her, and Bimpe held his hand strongly, like a life line. Brian stood up and extricated her from his father; he pulled her into his embrace.
Brian: “Don’t worry; soon we shall have our very own family. I know my daughters would be as beautiful as you are” he teased and Bimpe felt sad. She wondered how it would have been, if they were really marrying for love, if he had not betrayed her in the past. She thought of the children she would have had, and then she remembered the one that was aborted.
Bimpe: “No matter how cold my heart gets, I still think of love, I still long to be loved. I do not understand this” she thought as she was in Brian’s embrace.
===============================
The new date for the murder case against Alhaja Zainab was fixed in March. On this day, the courtroom was almost empty, the public had lost interest in the case, but Bimpe was there, not because she was interested, but to tell the public that she still cared about Justice for her late husband, Alhaji Dambazzau. Alhaja was led into the court, this time by psychiatric male nurses, dressed in white. She looked parched and burned out, but, her eyes were not lifeless and passive as it usually was. This time, if one looked closely, one would see fierceness in her eyes. The Judge came in and was surprised by the almost empty courtroom. He called the Defense counsel and the prosecutor to the bench. After chatting with them for a few minutes, he dismissed them.
Judge: “The law must be practiced according to the laid down rules. In spite of my conviction, I have to judge this case based on the evidence before me. The defendant already pleaded guilty, so there is no doubt of guilt. What is in question is the sanity of her mind at the time of committing the crime. We have had doctors testify that after evaluation, she was deemed insane, and since the prosecuting team did not bring any doctors to refute the claim, I hereby proclaim Alhaja Zainab Dambazzau, insane and mentally unfit. She is therefore to be remanded to the mental institute for life. There shall be no incidence of review of her sanity in the future; she shall spend her remaining days in the mental institute, so the society can be safe. This is my judgment” he banged the gavel and exited the court. Yusuf bowed his head and held it in his hands, he was tired of fighting, he was frustrated and down casted.
The psychiatric nurses were leading Alhaja back out of the court; she was not handcuffed because they had given her a numbing tablet that would send signals to her brain that she felt like sleeping. But, unknown to them, she hid the drug under her tongue and laid down. So that immediately, the nurse left, she took the drug out and disposed it. So they were not prepared for the drama she was about to perform. As soon as they were on the staircase, heading to the van which was parked at the curb, Alhaja pushed the man holding her, because he did not suspect and had his eyes on the road, he tripped and fell, which also destabilized the other nurse, and Alhaja ran with everything she had got.
By the time Yusuf raised his head up, he saw that his mother was already out of the court room. He ran outside to catch up with her before she was taken away; he was just stepping out into the March, morning sun when he saw his mother running away, and one of the nurses on the floor.
Yusuf: “Oh Uwa, why did you do that? Now you are going to be a fugitive” he whispered to himself. Bimpe heard the commotion outside and rushed out to see, behold Alhaja was gone. Fear descended on her heart, it gripped her so much that she staggered on the staircase, like she was going to fall, but Yusuf rushed and held her before she reached the ground. She steadied herself and moved away from him. The police were called immediately, people gathered in front of the courthouse videoing the psychiatric nurses who wore confused faces. They could not tell how a woman, who was frail and had been given sedatives could push them and escape from their hold.
Two men, who were associates of Alhaja Dambazzau sat in their meeting place and watched the news of Alhaja’s escape from the courthouse. They had links to the Inspector General of Police and they called him immediately, and gave him a task; Alhaja must be found, she better be found dead, than not found at all, they said.
=============================
Bimpe and Brian were the talk of town, their love was enviable, but in their closet, they could not stand each other. Brian could not pretend for long, most especially as Bimpe kept postponing their wedding announcements. She changed dates thrice already, and Brian was beginning to lose his patience. There was another player involved in this game of chess, and that was Chief Bamigboye.
Question: What is Alhaja Zainab’s next line of action? What is Bimpe’s next line of action?
[22:12, 1/9/2017] Obinnnna: (Episode 15) Wrong turn. A fatal attraction.
Because Bimpe began to spend so much time in the Bamigboyes house, the patron of the house began to have fond feelings for Bimpe, and this was not lost on Bimpe. She began to invite him often, for business dinner on the pretense that they were to discuss the fashion week. And on such dinners they would not discuss business, but other personal issues. Chief Bamigboye would tell her about his late wife, the things he liked and from such discussions, Bimpe began to have an idea about his weaknesses. One day she had come to the mansion, hoping to take Chief Bamigboye to his favorite polo club, but met Brian instead.
Brian: “Hello honey”
Bimpe: “Sweetheart, where is your dad, I want to take him to the Polo club”
Brian: “Why don’t we go instead, dad is not in the house”
Bimpe: “No we can’t go together because you are not a member, and the reason we are going, is business, and you wouldn’t know anything about that” Brian looked at her carefully, he was wondering if it was derision he heard in her voice.
Brian: “Bimpe, when are we getting married. You tell me that marrying me has been your lifelong wish, and yet you keep postponing our wedding. You hardly spend time with me, you rather spend it with my dad. I know you lost your parents, but my dad is my dad. No matter how much you take him out or spend time with him, he is still my dad”
Bimpe: “Oh Brian, why are you acting like a child whose candy is threatened? Your dad is just a good man, and we are business partners. So it is imperative that we get to know each other” she replied.
Brian: “So when are we getting married?” He was ready to force a date out of her because he was tired of waiting for her to pick a definite date.
Bimpe: “we will be married in two weeks, on my birthday” she said.
Brian: “Good, I will get in touch with a celebrity events planner to plan our wedding from scratch to finish. The court wedding will precede the church wedding”
Bimpe: “I won’t have a church wedding”
Brian: “What do u mean by that?” he said, trying hard to keep himself from flaring up
Bimpe: “It means exactly that Brian. I don’t see the need, it is just a waste of time and resources. I love you Brian and I want us to be joined by a priest, before God” she replied and embraced him.
Chief Bamigboye was sitting in his office with his friend from the University days, Doctor Dapo Ogunleye, they were discussing. Dapo confided in him the thing that has been disturbing me and kept him from marrying until now, while Chief Bamigboye told him the thing that he wouldn’t dare say to another person.
Chief Bamigboye: “Dapo, I am in trouble oh. This girl has entered all my system, I cannot go an hour without thinking about her, I am perplexed, I want this girl, but it is impossible. A girl like that wouldn’t want me; my son is whom she loves”
Dapo: “Don’t tell me, that your son’s fiancée is whom you are talking about like this”
Chief Bamigboye: “Who else. I have never met a girl like her, if my son was half the person she is; I would be the happiest man today”
Dapo: “What would you do about this? This is dangerous; she is supposed to be your daughter-in-law”
Chief Bamigboye: “I know what I will do”
Dapo: “Tell me, my friend, what will you do?”
Chief Bamigboye: “You will know about it in due time” he replied and sipped from his glass of wine.
One day, Chief Bamigboye was alone in the house and Bimpe visited, she had intended to drop the groom and his men’s outfit.
Chief Bamigboye: “My dear Bimpe, how are you and how is the wedding preparation?”
Bimpe: “I am fine daddy. I wanted to drop this for Brian” she bent down in front of Chief, to drop the package on the adjacent sofa. Chief could not hold it anymore, he grabbed her from behind. Bimpe turned abruptly in surprise.
Bimpe: “Dad, what is this?” she said softly.
Chief Bamigboye: “Bimpe, I love you, not just your body, but your intelligence, the way you carry yourself. I would have asked you out the day I met you, but I thought by giving you to my son, he would be a better man. But can I just have a taste of you?”
Bimpe: “After that, what next? I like you too, a lot. What would society say; I want to be with you. After knowing you, I found out you were perfect for me, but what would society say?” she replied him, and moved slowly to him. She kissed him lightly on the lips and ran out of the house. Chief Bamigboye wanted to run after her and ask her to cancel the wedding, but he knew she would not. He thought her, too principled.
========================
On the day of the wedding, Bimpe woke up in the morning and for the first time in a long while; she knelt down and prayed to God, but the kind of prayer she prayed…
Bimpe: “My father in heaven, I have no father so you are the only father I have. I know I am not worthy to be called your daughter, I am a terrible sinner, my heart is black with pain and vengeance. But Lord you understand that they wronged me first. Brian, the only man I ever loved. Father I gave him my heart and my body, and he smashed it on the floor. So, Lord, I want to fight, I want to take back my glory, I want to make him feel pain. Be with me Lord, as you have always done, and let the odds continually be in my favor, Amen” she prayed. She ended her prayer just when the makeup artist knocked on her door. It was time for the bridal rituals.
She opened her door and allowed in the bridal entourage, they fussed over her, scrubbing and pruning till her skin shone like polished gold. They dressed her up in her white sequined ball gown and pinned her hair with sparkly pins. It was time for her to be married for the second time.
Bimpe was in the white Limousine with her bridal train waiting for the groom.
Bimpe(to herself): “Wouldn’t it be so ironic if Brian stands me up? Wonder what would be my next plan if that happens. Well, I have a contingency plan, don’t i?” she smiled. Just then, she saw a black limousine decorated with nuptial flowers drive into the church courtyard. When the groom was inside the cathedral, Bimpe was led in by her train; no one walked her down the aisle. Chief Bamigboye had wanted the honors, but Bimpe had refused. She kept the wedding away from her family, but her foster father, Ladejo was passing by the Anglican church of the nativity, when he saw the wedding banner.
Ladejo: “Ha, is this not my Adebimpe?” he went in through the gate.
Bimpe was standing side by side with Brian, she turned to him, and when their eyes met, she smiled.
Priest: “Mr Brian Bamigboye, do you take Miss Adebimpe Dambazzau as your lawfully wedded wife, to be with her, care for her, and cherish her till death do you part”
Brian: “Yes I do”
Priest: “Miss Adebimpe Bamigboye, do you take Mr Brian Bamigboye as your lawfully wedded husband, to love and cherish, until death do you part?”
Bimpe: “Yes I do”
Priest: “Does anyone have any reason, why this two should not be joined in holy wedlock, speak out or forever hold your peace” The whole cathedral became quiet, everyone looked on, not expecting any hiccups, for this was a golden couple.
Priest: “By the powers vested in me as a minister of God, I…”
Bimpe: “Priest! Wait” she turned to Brian, with tears in her eyes. “I am sorry, I cannot go on with this charade for the sake of society, I have another man in my heart, I am in love with another man. I cannot marry you” Brian gripped her by the shoulders, and shook her desperately.
Brian: “You can’t do this to me. Who are you in love with, tell me this moment you bitch”
Bimpe: “Your father” she said and Brian’s hands fell limply from her shoulders. The whole congregation exclaimed in surprise.
There is fire on the mountain, and it will burn, who will be scorched and who will prevail?
[22:12, 1/9/2017] Obinnnna: (Episode 16) Wrong turn. A fatal Attraction.
Brian: “My father? Did you say my father? Bitch?” he raised his hand and smacked her hard on the face, Bimpe stumbled and fell backwards, but Chief Bamigboye was there to catch her.
Chief Bamigboye: “I did not raise you to raise your hand against a woman, you worthless son”
Brian: “You are the useless father, were you sleeping with my fiancée?” he said and made to grab Bimpe, but she held his hand.
Bimpe: “You dare not hit me again. You think I didn’t know you were after my wealth, I know everything, Brian, and that is why I refused a court marriage. I was ready to pretend and marry you, just to make your father happy, because I thought if I married you, I could be close to him. But I cannot imagine myself bond to you with the bonds of marriage. You are a despicable person” she turned to the priest, with a sober face.
Bimpe: “I have never slept with Chief Bamigboye, but my heart yearns for him, and I know he yearns for me too. Join us now” she turned to Chief Bamigboye and held him.
Bimpe: “We can live our life; we must not allow ourselves to be bound by the chains of society. I love you” she said passionately. At that moment her father opened the big oak doors of the cathedral and walked in.
Ladejo: “Bimpe” she turned and saw her foster father, her mouth opened in surprise.
Yusuf tried all he could to locate his mother but could not, with pain in his heart; he decided to go back to the State. He was at the airport lounge waiting for his flight to be called when a woman dressed in a blue burka came to sit close to him.
Yusuf: “Assallamu alaiku”
Strange woman: “Mualaikum salaam my son” she replied and Yusuf sat up.
Yusuf: “Mother, is it you. Where have you been?”
Alhaja: “You can’t leave the country, I need you”
Yusuf: “We have to look for a way to get you out of the country, you are a fugitive now”
Alhaja: “I won’t leave the country till the person who did this to us is recompensed” Yusuf thought of Bimpe and sighed. Maybe in another life, they would have been married now. After he lost everything, he began to see that buried under all his desire to get back his father’s properties, he had fallen for Bimpe, he had fought these feelings every time, but his heart won every time. He loved her but they could never forgive each other for the hurt they have each caused the other.
Yusuf: “Mother, you cannot hurt Bimpe. Killing father was not enough? How did you turn so evil?” Alhaja Zainab turned in her seat and gave Yusuf a resounding slap.
Alhaja: “I did not kill your father, I might not be a saint, but I would never hurt your father. That girl Bimpe is the murderer; I have no doubt about that” Yusuf thought back to when his abductors wanted to kill him, but Bimpe allowed him live, even when she knew that he could harm someday.
Yusuf: “Even if she did, we have to do everything legally. Two wrongs don’t make a right”
Alhaja: “She bribes everyone even the judge, even my own damn lawyer. Nobody wants to do any investigation; they want me to be the fall woman. I will do this my way.”
Yusuf: “Then I really must catch my flight. I hope you see the light early, before the darkness destroys you. Farewell Mother” he stood up and began to walk away.
Alhaja: “Please Yusuf, don’t leave, Yusuf!” people began to stare at them, and Alhaja, afraid that she would call attention to herself rushed out of the lobby, into the morning sun. Since, the day she ran away from the stairs of the courthouse, she had met a friend of hers who helped her access her offshore accounts. So even though she was on the road, she lacked nothing, she had already recruited people who would keep 24 hours surveillance on Bimpe, she wanted to know everything she was doing.
“This time, when I strike, you must go down” she pondered in her heart.
=================================
Bimpe: “Uncle, what are you doing here? You refused to give me out for marriage today, when you know my parents are dead. I don’t want to see you. Just leave immediately” she yelled. Ladejo’s heart broke, he tried to say something but the look in Bimpe’s eyes shut him up; he turned and went back the same way he came. The guests, when they left their houses, had not bargained for the drama they were watching now. They stayed glued to their seats, not wanting to miss any part of the drama.
Priest: “Are you willing to take this woman as your wife?” he asked looking at Chief Bamigboye. Chief Bamigboye was too stunned to answer. He could not believe that a woman such as Bimpe wanted him as a husband. But he wondered what the marriage would do to his family, especially his children. He felt a hand on his back, when he turned, he saw his friend, Doctor Dapo.
Dapo: “Think this through, you don’t have to do it today” he said. Bimpe looked at him and wondered why he was intent on scattering her plans, but she kept her cool. Then Dapo turned and their eyes both met. For a moment, they were immersed in each other’s eyes, but the moment passed.
Chief Bamigboye: “I don’t want to wait, I want to marry Bimpe now.” He said firmly. The priest blessed them, and they exchanged their vows.
Oyinda had traveled to avoid her brother’s wedding day, when she came back, she found out the worst thing had happened. Bimpe, her former roommate, someone who was on the lower rung of the ladder, was now her stepmother.
Oyinda: “Why the hell did you allow this happen? Did you just sit down and allowed your ex girlfriend become your step mother?” she yelled. Just then Bimpe walked into the kitchen.
Bimpe: “Hello children. No bickering in my kitchen, go to your rooms” she said with a wicked grin. Brian rushed towards her but Bimpe pulled out a knife from the knife rack and brandished it.
Bimpe: “Do I have to hire a bodyguard because of you? Instead of bickering in my kitchen, you should start looking for a wife. You know what is at stake, don’t you?” she snarled.
Oyinda: “You are such a conniving bitch; you never wanted to marry Brian, did you. You always had eyes for my father “
Bimpe: “He is very handsome and intelligent; it seems to me though, that you two missed the intelligence gene. This is just the beginning my dear children” she said and left the kitchen. As she passed through the living room, wanting to go up the stairs, Chief saw her.
Chief: “Bimpe, what are you doing with a knife, you want to hurt yourself?”
Bimpe: “It is for protection. Brian threatened me; I don’t feel safe in this house anymore”
Chief: “What do you mean, is Brian giving you problems? I know just want to do” He left Bimpe on the staircase, and proceeded to his private study. He always took very important calls in his study.
The next morning, Chief Bamigboye called a breakfast meeting. Bimpe was not ready to slave herself for anybody, so she had employed housekeepers as soon as she got into the house. So while the housekeepers set the foods on the table, Chief told them his mind.
Chief: “All your trust funds are in my new wife’s hands; she has a conglomerate, if she could manage that, she can manage your trust fund appropriately”
Brian: “What!”
Oyinda: “What has come over you father, to what purpose are you doing this?”
Chief: “I waited for you guys to grow up and be responsible, but I have been waiting a long time and none of you is stepping up. I do not want to die and my legacy dies with me. I will leave all I have in the hands of someone who is responsible.
Brian: “That will be over my dead body” he pound the glass table with his hard fist and the table gave in, breaking into pieces, and spewing the whole breakfast on the occupants of the table.
Oyinda: “The battle line has been drawn. Bimpe must leave this house or else…” she joined in. They both stood up and left.
=================================
Chief Bamigboye had gone to meet his lawyer, he wanted to change his will, but unknown to him, his son had an informant in the law firm that managed Chief’s assets and legal issues. So Brian was at home, when his phone rang, he saw it was his informant from the Law firm. He received the call and after listening for a while, his face contorted into rage, and his fist was folded. He hung up and threw the phone at the wall.
Brian: “I wonder how you got rich, was it by claiming other people’s inheritance? If so, you have come to the wrong house. I will not spare you” he said and walked to his wardrobe, he removed several piles of clothes, and then he brought out a parcel wrapped in a white cloth, he unwrapped the white cloth, and behold, it was a silver pistol. He dropped the cloth and left his room, the gun held firmly in his hand.
Brian: “You have bitten more than you can chew, Bimpe” he said as he descended the staircase one after the other. He could already see Bimpe and his father in the living room; Bimpe had her head on Chief’s chest.
Question: What is going to happen to Bimpe, will Brian go through with his intent?”
[22:13, 1/9/2017] Obinnnna: (Episode 17) Wrong turn. A fatal Attraction.
Chief Bamigboye: “Having you handle my affairs gives me a peace of mind, because I know if I die today, my house is in order. You are so young but yet so amazing, wise beyond your years”
Bimpe: “Oh dear you flatter me too much. But truth is, when life dealt with lemons, I made lemonades” He bent to kiss her hand, and then he got up abruptly, almost throwing Bimpe to the floor. Bimpe turned and saw Brian holding a pistol pointed at her.
Chief Bamigboye: “What the hell are you doing? Will you put that away?”
Brian: “I want to end this right here” he said, the veins throbbing in his neck. Bimpe just looked on, her feet had gone cold, and she was scared out of her mind.
Bimpe: “Why are you doing this, do you oppose our marriage so much you would kill your dad?”
Brian burst into a hysterical laughter.
Brian: “You really think this is for my dad” he said waving the pistol at her. “This is for you, bitch. Why would I kill my dad, when I can just kill you and everything would go back to normal, as it was before?”
Chief Bamigboye: “I will not let you do that, no I will not allow you commit murder” he said and began to move towards his son, Brian quickly pulled the trigger, the gun was pointed at Bimpe , but Chief Bamigboye dove in front of her, and the bullet caught him in the chest, and he fell. At that point, Oyinda was coming downstairs, she saw her father falling, and saw the smoking gun in Brian’s hand. At first she just stood there looking at her father on the floor, blood pooling under him, her brain refused to connect with what she was seeing. Then it just snapped…
Oyinda: “What have you done, what have you done Brian. Father!” she screamed and ran down the stairs. She rushed to where her father was lying. Bimpe could not react, she was frozen in place. Her eyes were seeing, her brain knew what had happened, but her body was moving of its own accord. Brian knelt beside his father crying, the gun by his side.
Brian: “I am sorry father, please forgive me, this was not my intent” he cried.
Oyinda: “You bitch, don’t just stand there, do something” she screamed. It was like the scream penetrated a block and snapped Bimpe back to the room.
Bimpe: “Oh my God, oh my God, you killed you. You killed your father” she said like she could not believe what she is saying.
Oyinda: “Go Brian, go away. I cannot lose my father and my brother” she left her dad and began to push him towards the door. Tears streamed down Brian eyes as he thought of the fact that he had killed his own father. He opened and left just as he heard the wail of the police siren. Unknown to them, the housekeeper had seen everything and called the police. But when the police came, Brian was nowhere to be found, the housekeeper had also fled the house, for fear of being arrested.
Oyinda: “Officer save me, save me, she killed my father” Oyinda wailed pointing at Bimpe.
Bimpe: “What!”
Oyinda: “You murderer, father dug his grave when he told everything was in your control now” she cried. The coroner mapped out the place his body laid, as a crime scene and began to take preliminary findings. The police arrested Bimpe, they handcuffed her and took her away. They also told Oyinda to follow them to the police station, to pen down her statement.
At the police station, she was kept in the interrogation room and left to herself. She tried to avoid her thoughts, she wanted to blank out, but she could not. Her thoughts were holding her hostage. She remembered how she had gave a testimony that nailed Alhaja, even when she knew Alhaja was not responsible for Alhaji’s death. Today, Oyinda had served her the same medicine, in the same dose.
Bimpe: “I guess I have no reason to complain” she said and began to sob when she remembered that Chief Bamigboye was dead. She liked him, he was a good man, and he was not the rook she was moving on her chess board. All she wanted was to punish Brian, take control of all that he was meant to have and frustrate his life. She never bargained for chief to die. She could not hold the pain and guilt, she began to bawl loudly. The door opened and a police officer came in. To Bimpe’s dismay, it was one of the detectives who investigated Alhaji’s death.
Detective: “Well well, who do we have here? Is this coincidence or what?” he asked as he entered the room. Bimpe kept mute and her eyes were down. However the guilt and self pity evaporated with the presence of the detective.
Bimpe(to herself): “Oyinda has trapped me but I have to get myself out, time for conscience pricking is not now, now is the time to survive” she kept up her spirit and raised her head to glare at the detective.
The detective was looking at Bimpe’s head that was hanging low, they had been watching her from outside, she looked like a crumpled rag doll, but just now, right before his eyes, she had transformed into a cobra ready to sting.
Bimpe: “I don’t understand what you meant by your earlier statement, but in any case, I have to contact my lawyer, so that he can interpret what you are saying. In other words, I cannot talk without the presence of my lawyer” The detective was taken aback.
Detective: “In that case, we have nothing to talk about” he said and left. In another room, Oyinda was writing an incriminating statement to nail Bimpe.
Interrogator: “Will you be able to witness in court that she killed your father?”
Oyinda: “Yes, she must be jailed”
Interrogator: “So I understand you have a brother, where is he?”
Oyinda: “He is not in the country at the moment”
Interrogator:”Do not leave the state till this case is concluded”
The news of Bimpe’s arrest spread like wildfire, Alhaja was joyful, but Bimpe going to jail was not the way she wanted things to go, she thought that, if Bimpe was convicted for this murder, she would only lose her freedom, but all of Alhaji’s possession would still be in her control. The only solution was for Bimpe to die. Barrister Demba saw the news of her arrest on television and knew the onus laid squarely on him to save her from herself. She was his partner after all. So to the police station he went.
Bimpe was pacing up and down the interrogation room, they weren’t talking to her, despite her influence, they were neglecting her and they were also keeping her from contacting the outside world, because they knew what she could do. She was still pacing, thinking of the next piece on her chess board to move when the door open.
Bimpe: “You have to let me contact my lawyer, or else I will sue you” she yelled before she realized that it was not the detective, but Barrister Demba. She rushed and hugged him, not because they were close, but because he was the only familiar face.
Bimpe: “I didn’t kill him, I swear I didn’t kill. Brian, his son killed him”
Barrister Demba: “Don’t say a word” he said. Bimpe put herself together, he turned where the camera should face and beckoned for the officers to join them in the room. Soon, the detective entered.
Detective: “So are we ready to confess?”
Barrister Demba: “I want a bail hearing today, how can you arrest her on the basis of one person’s statement? She has to be released now. And interrogating my client without my presence is crossing the line, let’s hope I don’t sue”
After all was said and done, Bimpe was bailed after spending 48 hours in jail. She was driven home by Barrister Demba who asked her to contact the associates, and see if they could help.
Bimpe: “I have a plan” she said, walking frantically around the house.
Barrister Demba : “Tell me about this plan”
Bimpe: “Oyinda is the only person who is nailing me; I want to give her an offer that she cannot refuse”
Just then, Oyinda walked in, she saw them and gave a long sigh.
Bimpe: “Oyinda I need to talk with you, it is about the murder”
Oyinda: “I have nothing to say to you, murderer” she replied and was going away, but Bimpe held her hand.
Bimpe: “What would you say if I tell you, I will release your trust fund to you,and give you even your brother’s. Not only that I will give over all your father’s assets.”
Oyinda: “Why would you do all these?”
Bimpe: “So that you will retract your statement, your brother has escaped and the authorities may never find him, tell the authorities the truth, and you will be richer than the governor of Lagos” she said and watch the greediness play out on Oyinda’s face, she was actually contemplating exposing her brother for riches.
Oyinda: “I will give you a reply in twenty four hours” she said and walked away.
Question: Will Oyinda save Bimpe from the situation she is in, or will her loyalty to her brother override her love for riches?
[22:13, 1/9/2017] Obinnnna: (Episode 18) Wrong turn. A fatal Attraction.
Oyinda agreed to clear Bimpe’s name in a press conference. Bimpe went all out in organizing the press conference. She invited top bloggers, vloggers and newsmen to the press conference. The conference was held in the courtyard of Cytron Company. Bimpe waited for Oyinda to arrive before she went out, but Oyinda did not come at the time she should. Her heart began to tremble.
Bimpe: “This is going to be the worst, to be stood up” she muttered as they walked up and down her office. Her secretary did well to stay clear from her path because when she was in this mood, she could turn on anybody. She had sacked an employee once, when she was in this mood. But Barrister Demba was with her, Bimpe had discussed the offer, she offered Oyinda, but he had his doubts to the feasibility of this plan. So he was already prepared for the case. His only fear was that, Bimpe could be handing ammunition to Oyinda to harm her, she was giving her a stage and there was no telling what Oyinda would say. After a long wait, in which the pressmen were beginning to get impatient and some were packing up to leave, Bimpe came out of the company premises, with Oyinda in tow.
Bimpe: “Welcome everyone to this press conference. The purpose of this conference is to clear my name. By whatever reason, I was wrongly accused of the death of my husband, but today I am happy to say, that the one other person who saw the incident is here to tell the truth, and clear me from any wrong doing. The murderer is still out there” she said and paved the one for Oyinda to come to the microphone and talk.
Oyinda: “My stepmother did not kill my father, she is innocent, my brother did, he killed my father, but it was not intentional, he meant to…” People began to boo and jeer at her. She could not continue because they were throwing slurs at her. At this time, Bimpe should have taken her off the stage, but she wanted her to complete. More importantly, she wanted her to name her brother as the murderer.
Brian was sitting in his hideout watching the television, he was happy about the development, if Bimpe was convicted for the murder of his father, he could easily take back what he deserved. He loved his sister more for standing for him, he had not finished the thought when the press conference came up live on LVH1, he saw Bimpe and he saw Oyinda coming up behind her.
Brian: “What is going on here?” he thought to himself, his mind refused to accept the fact that his sister would turn on him. His hopes were dashed when Bimpe announced that her name would be cleared. Then his sister began to talk and his world crumbled.
Brian: “Oyinda! Oyinda!” he sneered through clenched teeth. He pulled up his hood on his sweatshirt and stepped out of his hideout. He was going to pay his sister a visit.
After the crowd quieted down, Bimpe urged Oyinda to continue her speech; the latter turned and looked at her thoughtfully.
Oyinda: “She is enjoying this; she wants me to finger Brian publicly. We’ll see about that” she flipped her hair to one side and adjusted the microphone closer to her mouth.
Oyinda: “All I just said is a lie. Bimpe forced me to say this, she bribed me, that she would give me my inheritance if I cleared her name and finger my brother instead. My brother Brian was and still is out of the country on the day of the incident. How much she bribe me with my own inheritance, is it not my property? I have to say the truth even if it means that she will keep all of my father’s properties, it doesn’t matter. The murderer of my father, Chief Bamigboye is none other than Bimpe, and she must be sent to jail.” She said and walked away quickly, afraid for her life. She kept turning left right and backwards to make sure Bimpe had not sent anyone after her.
Barrister Demba: “We have to leave now” he pulled her arm but she was pulling back, she wanted to say her side of the story.
Bimpe: “They have to hear me, I did not kill Chief Bamigboye, I did not” she wailed. Barrister Demba succeeded in taking her away from the venue of the conference, back into the company’s premises. The conference was televised on many television channels, people began to remember the murder of Alhaji, and the tag “Black widow” appeared more on television.
Bimpe: “I want another conference”
Barrister Demba: “Enough of the conferences, this plan was bad from the onset, your priority is to win the case, not win public opinion. Public opinion does not matter”
Bimpe: “What is the way forward?”
Barrister Demba: “It is obvious that the police have no evidence other than Oyinda’s testimony, we have to attack her authenticity. Do not worry; everything is going to be fine”
Oyinda was in the big mansion all alone, she had on her night robe, but she could not sleep. She kept seeing the visuals of her father lying in his own pool of blood. She blamed Bimpe for everything, and swore that she would make sure she is convicted for her father’s murder. She was lost in thought she didn’t realize somebody else was in the living room with her. Till he gripped her neck, she tried to scream, but the sound was killed in her throat.
Brian: “You traitor, how could you do that to me?” he lifted her from the couch and threw her to the floor.
Oyinda: “Brian, what have I done to you that you want to kill me as you killed father”
Brian: “I saw you on television today, you …”
Oyinda: “Yes I was and I regret throwing Bimpe under the bus for you”
Brian: “I don’t understand, you cleared Bimpe’s name, didn’t you?”
Oyinda: “You probably watched the beginning and had no patience for the latter part. I did that to make things worse for her, have you read the news recently, people think she bribed me to say that, they think the worst of her. People already believe she is guilty, you are free. The police will never know. Only me know who killed father.” Brian embraced her and thanked her.
Oyinda: “How do we get our possession back?”
Brian: “Patience, sister. The first step is to get her to prison, if we succeed in that, every other thing is a cake walk”
The solicitor in charge of Chief Bamigboye’s estate fixed a date for the reading of the will; Bimpe went and told him that the day in question was not convenient for her. She knew she was a principal element and the will would not be read in her absence. This infuriated the children so greatly, that they couldn’t wait for the case to begin, so they would testify against Bimpe. One day, a day to the trial, Bimpe went to the house to pack her belongings, she had not lived in the house since Chief died. When she opened the door, she stumbled because fear consumed her, there, staring at her, was Brian.
Bimpe: “You?”
Brian: “Yes me, what are you doing here, murderer?”
Bimpe: “Oh my God, have you guys told this lie so often that you actually believe it?”
Brian:”What are you doing here?”
Bimpe: “I live here, in fact, I own this house since you killed your father. I would have kicked you guys out, but I am not in the mood, but don’t test me” she said and walked away, taking tentative steps up the stairs.
================================
The day of the trial saw a full courthouse, like the time of the murder of AlhajiDambazzau. People trudged to the courthouse, both pressmen and ordinary citizens.Bimpe dressed in a midi peach colored dress. She sat in the defense section with her lawyer Barrister Demba. Oyinda walked into the courtroom and sat on the other side of the room, eyeing Bimpe all the way to her seat.
Court official: “The defendant should stand” Bimpe stood up, she felt a sense of déjà vu. The last time she was in the courthouse, she was a witness, today she was a defendant.
Court official: “How do you plead?”
Bimpe: “Not guilty” she replied
Court official: “The court calls the prosecuting counsel to call its first witness”
The prosecutor stood up and called Oyinda out to the witness stand.
Prosecutor: “You witnessed the murder of Chief Bamigboye, do you see the murderer in the court room?”
Oyinda: “That is her, the murderer is Bimpe” she pointed straight to Bimpe, who looked at her, her face devoid of any emotion or expression.
Prosecutor: “What did she kill your father, with?”
Oyinda: “A pistol” she replied. The prosecutor had the remote to a projector, so he displayed the picture of the pistol found at the crime scene.
Prosecutor: “How did it happen?”
Oyinda: “I was upstairs in my room when I heard shouts, it was Bimpe’s voice, she was screaming at my dad, she was angry, I could not hear what she was saying, I rushed downstairs just at the moment she pulled the trigger. My dad fell, with blood spurting out of the bullet hole, and she just threw the gun and stared at my dad, she did not do anything, she was so heartless.” She began to sob. It was easy for her to cry because she missed her dad and he was dead, never to return. Many who watched her cry could feel her grief, and they hated Bimpe the more. She was the face of villainous.
Prosecutor: “No further questions” he said and went back to his seat. Barrister jumped out the moment, the prosecutor got to his seat.
Barrister Demba: “Miss Bamigboye, you say that Bimpe held the gun and shot your father point blank?”
Oyinda: “yes she did, I saw her”
Barrister Demba: “But analysis of the finger prints on the gun has been compared with the defendant’s finger prints, and there was no match. Here is exhibit A” he brought out papers from his folder and gave to the court clerk and the judge, he also displayed it on the projector, for all to see.
Oyinda(stuttering): “I only know what I saw, and she held the gun”
Barrister Demba: “Was she wearing hand gloves?”
Oyinda: “I don’t know, I cannot tell”
Barrister Demba: “Were you Jealous that a lady that was once your classmate was now your stepmother?”
Prosecutor: “Objection, speculation”
Judge:”sustained. Counsel, if you have no more questions, save our time”
Barrister Demba: “No further questions” he said and went back to his seat, with a sly grin. Bimpe looked at him and wondered what was amusing in this situation.
Prosecutor: “I call Bimpe to the stand”
Question: Do you think the prosecutor has laid a trap for Bimpe, by calling her to the stand? Also, why was Bimpe’s lawyer smiling in such a tight situation. Does he have an ace up his sleeve?
[22:14, 1/9/2017] Obinnnna: (Episode 19) Wrong turn. A fatal Attraction.
Bimpe turned to Barrister Demba for advice; he nodded his head in approval. She stood up and walked to the stand, if you didn’t know about the case, you would not know she was the defendant being tried. She was given the bible to swear an oath. After which, she was handed over to the prosecutor.
Prosecutor: “How old are you?”
Barrister Demba: “Objection my Lord” he said jumping out of his seat
Judge:”Overruled, Answer the question, but counselor, be more relevant” he said, obviously bored.
Bimpe: “I am twenty two years old” she replied
Prosecutor: “And yet you have had two husbands. And both of them are dead”
Bimpe: “Is there a question, somewhere in there?”
Prosecutor: “Are you a black widow?”
Barrister Demba: “Objection my lord”
Judge: “Sustained. Counselor be advised”
Prosecutor: “Sorry my Lord. Bimpe what was your purpose marrying Chief Bamigboye, when you were originally engaged to his son.”
Bimpe: “Love” she replied simply.
Prosecutor: “Love; was it also love that made you marry Alhaji Dambazzau?”
Bimpe: “I do not think my marriage and the choices I have made is on trial today, so if you have nothing to ask me, please say so. I did not kill my husband”
Prosecutor: “Where were you on the day chief bamigboye, was murdered?”
Bimpe: “I was there at the scene, I saw him die, I saw who shot him”
Prosecutor:”Who, if not you”
Bimpe: “Brian, the man I was engaged to, I dumped him because he was after my money, not love.
Prosecutor: “Your money you said, how did you come about the money? You were not born with a silver spoon, you are a college dropout. So tell this distinguished court, how you got so rich”
Barrister Demba:”Objection my Lord, badgering the witness”
Judge: “Sustained, make your question succinct and within the letter and the spirit of the law.
Prosecutor: “What is your line of business?”
Bimpe: “I specialize in information technology as seen by the companies I own such as Cytron and Daminfotech, I am also in the oil sector as represented by Damoil”
Prosecutor: “Before your first marriage, who were you?”
Bimpe: “If I married a rich man, is that a crime? Because, I seem not to understand your questions” she replied.
Actually, Bimpe had called the associates and intimated them with the recent development. She told them she was not guilty and was not ready to suffer for another person’s crimes. So they had pulled their strings and the prosecutor who started the case was pulled from the case, leaving another prosecutor to take over the case. This prosecutor was not very smart; he was picking at straws and was making the case perforated.
Prosecutor: “Adebimpe, you are under oath, so answer this question truthfully. Did you kill Chief Bamigboye?”
Bimpe: “I did not kill my husband. My life up to this point has been of grace. I have just been lucky, because my two husbands are dead, that does not mean I killed them. I am innocent” she said looking at the faces of the court room. For reasons she could not fathom, she desperately wanted them to believe her.
Prosecutor: “No further questions”
Judge: “Anyone else you want to call to the stand?
Prosecutor: “No your honor” he replied and went back to seat.
Barrister Demba: “I call Mrs. Ashionye to the stand”
Bimpe looked at him and wondered who that was, even Oyinda was asking the same questions, and she was also scared. A woman stood up from the back and began to walk towards the witness stand. Bimpe and Oyinda both recognized the housekeeper.
Barrister Demba: “Please Mrs. Ashionye tell this honorable court what you told me”
The housekeeper began to narrate all that went down that fateful day. Then she mentioned Brian as the murderer.
Barrister Demba: “Don’t just take her word for it, I have proof” he pressed the button, and a video came on the projector screen. It played the whole incident as it happened.
Oyinda: “Oh my God” she whispered in defeat.
Barrister: “My lord, with this I am sure I have been able to convince you beyond reasonable doubt that Bimpe, my client is free from any wrong doing,”
Two bailiffs walked to where Oyinda was seated, they handcuffed her and took her away.
Brian was watching the trial on television, expecting Bimpe to be convicted and thrown in jail for the murder he committed, he could walk around freely. From the beginning of the trial, he was disappointed and had lost faith. He was beginning to see that Bimpe could walk, and he was already putting plans into place.
Brian: “Prison is the safest place for Bimpe. I will not spare you. You caused the death of my father, and you shall join him soon. You shall be his wife not just in life, but in death also. I promise you this”
The court was in uproar, people who had condemned Bimpe were beginning to see it was a case of jealousy that made Oyinda finger her as the murderer. The judge gave a 10 minutes recess so that people could become less excited. Dapo Ogunleye was in the courtroom, he looked at the enigma that was Bimpe . He blamed her for the death of his best friend. He looked at her as she sat with her lawyer and decided he would give her a piece of his mind. He left where he was seated and walked up to Bimpe.
Bimpe: “Hello”
Dapo: “You may not have raised the weapon that was used to kill my friend, Chief Bamigboye, but you killed him, and the guilt will be on your conscience forever. You destroyed a once beautiful family, turned them into things they are not.
Bimpe: “I have known Brian and Oyinda since my University days and there is nothing beautiful or sweet about them. Let me tell you a story” She said and narrated how she fell in love with Brian, and how he promised her marriage, but then, when she got pregnant, he abandoned her and told her she had to abort the baby. I did, had complications that resulted in the break in my family. The whole village humiliated me because they found out about the abortion. While she was talking, Dapo had come to a dreadful conclusion.
Bimpe: “So don’t sit there and tell me I destroyed that family, when they destroyed my life .
Dapo: “What is your mother’s name”
Before Bimpe could reply, the judge came back into the courtroom, and the court official told the people, that court was back in session. Dapo had no choice but to go back to his and throughout the court session, he watched Bimpe.
Judge: “Having heard from both parties, this case is as straightforward as any case can be, I don’t see why we should prolong the issue. I acquit Mrs.Bamigboye of every wrong doing. You are discharged and acquitted” he said. Bimpe turned and embraced Barrister Demba. Dapo Ogunleye came back to where they were seated, he was intent on find out if what he suspected, was factual.
Dapo: “Hello Bimpe”
Bimpe: “I have had an ear full of the piece of your mind, allow me listen to my own mind. Excuse me” she said and turned away from him. Dapo, after standing there decide that he had all the time in the world, to get to know Bimpe better.
Bimpe: “How did you do it?”
Barrister Demba: “Do what?”
Bimpe: “How did you find my housekeeper, and how did you know she saw everything”
Barrister Demba: “I am afraid I didn’t know about her, she approached me and told me her conscience was disturbing her, she saw everything that happened and knows you are chief’s murderer”
Bimpe: “She is a life saver, I have to reward her” she said thoughtfully.
Back at the police station, Oyinda was not able to convince the detectives that she did not plan with her brother, to kill their father. In two hours, an aggressive manhunt commenced, to fish out Brian.. Brian on the other hand began to watch Bimpe’s movements, he was stalking her out.
One morning, Bimpe woke up with a feeling of nostalgia, today was the day that the Lagos fashion week. It was Chief’s project, and she was going to make sure she did him proud. She started her morning rituals with prayers. She had learned some passages of the Quran, she would sit down and began to pray with a prayer bead. After having her shower, she dressed up in navy blue pant trousers and a white chiffon, long sleeved shirt. By the time she was done, she was already running late. She decided to take a back road that would connect her to the express way, so she could bypass the tight traffic jam on the norm al route she would have taken.
She was driving when she noticed that a car had been on her tail since she left the house. She began to panic and thought of who to call, she thought of the associates and was about to dial a number when a bullet whizzed by her ear and shattered the windscreen in front of her.
Question: Who has come for Adebimpe, omo Ilisan? Is it Alhaja Zainab or Brian Bamigboye?
[22:15, 1/9/2017] Obinnnna: (Episode 20) Wrong turn. A fatal Attraction.
She kept on driving, keeping her head down as pellets after pellets of bullets shot into the car, her entire back windscreen was gone, and the car was filled with broken glass. On a normal day, this road was deserted, now during rush hour, there was not a single soul to be seen. Every time, she prayed to God, it was to ask him to help her plans work, no matter how evil. Now she was in dire need of God, she felt guilty to even call the name of God; she knows she had led an unworthy life. Just then, a passage from the bible invaded her mind, she remembered this passage from Sunday school days in the little church Anglican church in Ilisan, which she attended with her foster Father, Ladejo and her siblings. The passage whispered in her heart thus:
“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as wool, and though they be red like crimson, they shall be whiter than snow”
She turned back and saw a man was driving the black car tailing her, he had one hand on the steering wheel and the other hand held a gun that was pointed in her direction. To her bewilderment, she realized it was not just one car, they were about three and they had men inside.
Bimpe: “Oh God, I am not worthy to call your name, but I remember the bible said that, as many as would call on the name of God, they shall be saved. Save me, I am filthy, a sinner, a wicked person, I am unforgiving. I know I might die today, death is not the worst that can happen to me, I don’t want to be lost forever, I do not want to go to hell, please forgive me, have mercy on my poor soul, save my soul dear Lord” she said as she cried. Faced with imminent death, her whole life flashed before her eyes, she saw where she should have let go and leave vengeance to God, and she saw her deceitfulness, her connivance, and her wickedness. She became broken, and penitent.
Bimpe: “Forgive me dear Lord, forgive me, I did not know better. Have mercy” a bullet whizzed by and grazed her arm, just as another hit one of her tires. The pain shot through her and she lost control of the wheel. She raised her head and saw that in fear she had missed the turn that connect her to the expressway, and the road she was on, ended in a cliff, before she could retake the control of the wheel, another wheel was shot, and her car went diving down the cliff, to the valley below. As soon as the car made contact with the ground, the back part exploded, Bimpe’s head was on the wheel, blood dripped from the side of her head, and her arm where the bullet touched.
Brian was in one of the cars, so was Alhaja. Alhaja had sent someone to monitor the Bamigboyes house one day, and Brian had caught the person, after beating the person to pulp, the man, through swollen lips, and bleeding gums, he told Brian that he did not come for him, that he was there to monitor Bimpe, on Alhaja’s orders. Brian had told the man that Bimpe had packed out of the mansion, and he knew her new place of residence, but would want to see who sent him. The spy took Brian to meet Alhaja and they formed a partnership, they were both fugitives, so they could help each other destroy the one person they both loved to hate. Here they were today, pursuing their common enemy.
Bimpe crawled out of her upside down car, with her belly. Like a snake, she crawled away a few feet from the car as she saw the flames were sweeping forward and in no time the car would explode, she had not finished the thought when she heard the sound of voices. It seemed her pursuers had followed her down to the valley. She managed to stand up, even as she was feeling dizzy and it was like she would pass out, she still dragged her feet. When the voice got close, she began to run, adrenalin pumped into her system as fear of death filled her mind. It was like she was on steroids, the pains from the head and arm wound dulled ad she ran with all her might.
She was running, running and running, her legs were weakening, her gown was drenched with sweat , and soot from the explosion, it stuck to her back, her makeup was all sticky, her mascara ran like black oil down her face, the Brazilian extension she had on was dripping sweat and stuck to her head and face. she couldn’t run any longer, but if she wanted to be alive, she had to. She turned back to see if her pursuers were behind, she saw no one. She decided to rest and catches her breath, just then her phone rang;
Bimpe: “Hello”
Brian (on the phone): “You can only run, but you can’t hide, this is my city and I will get you.” She began to fidget, and the phone fell out of her hand as she began to slowly go down, till she slumped on the red sand, consumed with fear. As she lay on the ground, her face in the sand, tears dropping from her eyes, mixed with phlegm, pooled on the red sand making it muddy. She thought back to how and where it all started… and wished she had taken a different path. What were riches without love, happiness and peace of mind? Having lived so long in poverty, she pursued riches, wih greed, not minding who she hurt, she allowed one fatal attraction to deviate her from the good path she was on. She took a wrong turn, thinking that revenge would bring her happiness. She loved Yusuf but could she blame him for not loving her back, when she destroyed his mother because, of her thirst for revenge.
Bimpe: “Oh had I known, I would have pursued my studies, done menial jobs if I had to. I would have graduated and got a good job, I would have built financial security gradually, and nobody would be pursuing me now, to kill me” she began to sob.
She was so lost in her thoughts she did not hear the sound of approaching feet, she saw them when they were already close. She staggered up to her feet. And tried to run, but it was too late. A staccato of gunshot rent the silent valley.
Dapo found out the offices of Barrister Demba, he thought that since she was Bimpe’s lawyer, he would know where he could find her. Barrister Demba was in his office relishing the court victory he secured for Bimpe, when his secretary came to announce the presence of a man who wanted to have a talk with him.
Barrister Demba: “Send him in” he said and went to a little coffee machine at a corner table. He brewed two cups of coffee. When ne turned, he saw the man who had approached Bimpe at the courthouse, and blamed for Chief Bamigboye’s death.
Barrister Demba: “You didn’t say all you needed to say. Get over your friend’s death already”
Dapo: “That’s not why I am here. I am here to inquire about Bimpe. She is my daughter, when she told me that story at the courthouse; I realized she is my daughter”
Barrister Demba: “Sorry I cannot help you, anyone who wanted access to her could just claim to be her long dead parents, no, that won’t do”
Dapo: “Please I beg of you, she needs to know she is not a bastard and she is my daughter” he said.
Barrister Demba was taken aback, how would Bimpe think she is a bastard, she had told him that her parents died long ago. Anyways, he decide to give him the address of Alhaji’s estate which was now occupied by Bimpe’s relatives.
Dapo reached the estate and told the security at the gate that Bimpe asked him to come, they told him that Bimpe was no longer resident at the estate, but her relatives were here. Tell anyone around that Dapo Ogunleye is here to see them. He hoped that if they were really Bimpe’s relatives, they would know about him. He waited at the security for almost 30 minutes before he saw his childhood friend approaching the gate. He was older now, but the face was still there.
Dapo: “Aburo mi” he said when Ladejo got near.
Ladejo: “Dapo, ha Dapo, how did you locate this place” the two men embraced each other. No matter what had happened between them, they were still friends, the bond was rusty, but not broken.
Dapo: “My brother and friend, please forgive me, forgive me”
Ladejo: “I forgave you long ago. The past is past” He took Dapo to the house where he met Basirat. Basirat’s heart quickened, when she saw Dapo, and she remembered the past again.
Basirat: “Ladejo, what is this man doing here?”
Ladejo: “He is my friend and has come to visit us. Sit down; this is not the time for your childish tantrums.”
Dapo: “I am so happy I found you, I have been top Ilisan, and nobody knows where you are
Ladejop: “Bimpe, my daughter has abandoned us, but she left us well. I had an accident which destroyed my leg, she helped me have surgery on it and restored my ability to walk again. She also took us from ILisan to this place, gave me a business in real estate. I am well to do now, but I am not happy, The only daughter I have rejected me in front of a congregation on her wedding day”
Dapo: “That was you?”
Ladejo: “You were there? I had a cap on”
Dapo: “I am convinced now that Bimpe is my daughter. I am sorry Basirat for denying you before, I was scared, I was so young, with my whole life before me, I was irresponsible”
Basirat began to weep, the whole shame she felt those years, her parents didn’t care for her welfare, they said if she could sleep with a boy and be pregnant, then she was capable of taking care of herself. She went through it all alone, and since the child was born, she had resentment for her. Even when she grew to look a lot like her, she still resented her and saw Dapo whenever she saw her face.
The bullets ripped into her, as she fell slowly to the ground and crumpled like a ragged doll, with her life blood draining out of her and been soaked up by the sand. She raised her head to the heavens and said;
Bimpe: “Receive my soul Father” she closed her eye lids.
The men reached her, and called to the others. Brian and Alhaja reached the others and looked down on the little girl that had been a thorn in their flesh. On the floor, her head was at a wrong angle, looking at her they would never imagine that someone so fragile could be so powerful.
Alhaja: “I told you, I made a mistake not killing you that time before you married Alhaji, but I don’t make mistakes twice. So long” she spat on her and walked away.
Brian: “So long bitch” he spat and walked away with his men.
Question: Is this the end of the road for Bimpe? Was she responsible for Alhaji’s death?
[22:15, 1/9/2017] Obinnnna: FINAL EPISODE COMING SOON
😋😋😋😋😋😋
[22:15, 1/9/2017] Obinnnna: (Final Episode 21) Wrong turn. A Fatal Attraction.
At the muson center, the fashion week was about to start, but the sponsor was nowhere to be found. The advisory team in Cytron tried calling their CEO, but it rang and rang, she was not picking up. It was unlike her. They decided to send the president to represent her at the event, but everyone noticed that Bimpe was absent.
Oyinda was held in detainment and charged with being an accessory to crime, and also for perjury because she lied in court that she saw Bimpe kill her father when she knew it was Brian who did that. Bail was refused her, she was told that until her brother was caught, she would be in police custody. Sitting in the cubic jail cell, she wished for company, but found none. Even the prostitutes that were arrested by the police had been bailed just two hours after their arrest. She had been here for 48hours and she didn’t know when she would leave. Rats and cock roaches were her cell mates, stinking rats that were not afraid of her. They would come close to her and look at her like she was a stranger in their abode, then they would come close to her feet and pick at it. She got so frustrated, she began to wail and bang on the gate of her jail cell.
Oyinda: “Let me out! Let me out!” she cried. The prosecutor in charge of the murder case came to meet her.
Prosecutor: “You haven’t seen anything yet and you are crying. When the trial is concluded, you would be sentenced and then jail will be your home for a long time. You made a fool out of me in court; I hinged the whole case on your testimony, not knowing it was all bullcrap. Help me find your brother and I might be lenient.”
Oyinda: “I will do anything” she replied. She felt a pang of guilt but quickly brushed it. After all, she has been here and her brother had not sent help her way, he was somewhere, free and she was suffering for what she didn’t do.
Prosecutor: “Good” he beckoned to a junior officer to bring her out of the cell and take her to his office. In the office, he offered her a glass of water, which Oyinda gulped down for she was tasty.
Oyinda: “What do you want me to do?”
Prosecutor: “You will call your brother and tell him you have been released and you want to see me. Make sure you convince him to meet with you. The venue would be 4pm, at Mama Cass”
A man was walking down the dusty path, it was actually down the valley, it was shorter route to his place of work, the recession was not smiling at his pocket and he needed to cut cost, so he trekked this path every day. He saw the burning car and knew there had been an accident, he felt sorry for whoever was in the car, and wished that he had been there earlier. That was how he felt about every misfortune, he always wished there was something he could have done to prevent it. Then he saw a mound ahead, it looked like a person. He quickened his speed and it was like he was not getting there fast enough, he began to run. He reached the spot and saw that it was a young girl.
Man: “Oh my God, what happened to you, oh she is dead” he bent down and held her wrist to check for a pulse.
Man: “Oh thank Jesus” he said as he felt a very faint pulse. If he did not get her help immediately she would die. He heaved her on to his shoulder and began to run, even though she was heavy like a dead body… she was already at death’s door.
Man: “Please God, save her, just this one soul, save her” he muttered under his breath as he throttled to find the expressway. On the expressway, he flagged down a taxi, but on seeing Bimpe dripping blood, they drove away. He was still dancing up and down looking for a taxi when a police van arrived. They saw the man with the woman dripping blood, with bullet holes on her back.
Police: “Hey you”
Man: “Please rush this woman to the hospital, I found her down in the valley, please don’t let her die” They carried Bimpe into the van and handcuffed the man, he would need to explain to them why he was with a woman that had been shot.
They took her to the nearest hospital on the expressway, with their sirens blazing and howling. At the hospital, the nurses transferred Bimpe into a gurney and rushed her to the Intensive Care Unit. At the same time, they got the surgeon that it was a matter of urgency. Five minutes later, the surgeon have scrubbed and in his scrub gown rushed into the theatre with his team. He staggered when he saw who he was going to operate on.
Nurse: “Doctor, what is it?”
Dapo: “My child, Bimpe” He rushed to his set of equipments and began work on Bimpe, they had to get the bullets out. This was the hardest test of his life since he began practicing Medicine; the fate of his child lay in his hands. He began to pray as he worked on her.
Dapo: “God don’t allow her die in my hands. Help me, show me what I should do” he muttered his prayer. Somehow, the media got the news and soon it was on the news in every radio and television outlet that Bimpe was shot multiple times and fighting for her life. There was speculation as to who the culprit was. Only one detective thought that Alhaja who escaped from the courthouse and has never been seen again could be responsible for the attack on Bimpe, he also thought of Brian, the son of Chief Bamigboye.
Detective: “Ha, that little woman has stepped on a lot of toes” he said as they got ready to storm the hospital. They knew it was related to both the murder of Alhaji Dambazzau and Chief Bamigboye, so they had to be there, if she survived to get her statement , and also to be on the lookout, if her assailants would come for her again. They also had to set a drag net for the culprit.
Oyinda had no choice than to cooperate with the police to trap her evil brother. She made a call to him, it rang several times he did not pick.
Oyinda: “He is not picking his call”
Prosecutor: “Then you will here for a long time” just then the prosecutor received a call, after listening for a while his face became grim. Then he dropped the phone and held his head.
Prosecutor: “It seems your brother has been busy, Bimpe is undergoing surgery right now, she was attacked, multiple gunshots to the back, she might die. And if she does, I might lose my job, the backlash will be too much, I was pursuing the wrong and allowed the main culprit get away, and it is all your fault, you had better think of ways to bring your brother in, because it is about to get brutal for you.”
Oyinda began to tremble, she remembered her dad, and wept. If he was alive, all these would not be happening. Just then, her phone rang. An idea just entered her head and she decided to use, after all Brian’s stupidity caused their father’s death, she had better start looking out for herself. She pressed the receive button.
Oyinda: “hello aburo mi”
Brian: “Where are you, I am leaving the country and I want you to come with me”
Oyinda: “I am in a friend’s place”
Brian: “But you were arrested inside the court room”
Oyinda: “Yes, but I posted bail. The trial will begin only when they lay their hands on you. I want to come with you wherever you are going. But ypu have to finish what you started. Heard Bimpe is in the hospital, she is on her way to recovery”
Brian: “What! She was dead when I left, is that girl also a witch? I am coming right away, tell me the address”
Oyinda: “Are you mad, you want my friend to see you, your face is all over everywhere, I will meet you at Mama Cass, not the one in Ikeja, meet me at the one in Ajose Adeogun, by 4 pm. Don’t be late” he said he would do just that and she hung up before he could hear the defeat in his voice. She wished there was another way out. At four, she was taken to the police officers mess where she was given a bath, and given fresh clothes to wear for her meeting with her brother.
Doctor Dapo worked on Bimpe for five hours, by this time Ladejo, Basirat and Dele had come to the hospital. Basirat felt guilt, she began to blame herself. If only she had been responsible, if only she had brought her close after the abortion and made her understand that one mistake should not determine the path her life would take, and then Bimpe would not have chosen this path, she wouldn’t be fighting for her life as she was doing now.
Basirat:”Please God, if you can save her, just this once, I will change, I will be a better mother and woman” she prayed. Ladejo on his path begged God not to take away his only daughter; she was the only daughter he had, since God blessed him with only boys.
Ladejo: “Children should bury their parents, not the other way round” he prayed, his heart was heavy. Dele was old enough to know that if Bimpe died he wouldn’t see her again, so he pleaded with God in his own way to deliver his sister from the clutches of death.
After the surgery, Bimpe was not responding, she was in a vegetative state. Dapo tried all he could but one bullet was stuck there between the third and fourth vertebrae, if he pushed further, she might never walk again, so he left it. The Good Samaritan was released when it was clear that he had no hand in the attempt on Bimpe’s life. He coordinated with Dapo and invited his church members to keep a vigil. They prayed all day and all night. But Bimpe remained as she was.
===============================
At Mama Cass, Oyinda sat by the door, and waited for Brian. She wished they could escape together when they came, but she knew the place was surrounded by the police. Then she saw her brother coming, he wore a cap covering his face, she was tempted to signal him to run. She stood up but it was too late, he was already in the restaurant, once inside there was no way he could get away.
Brian: “Oyinda mi, I am sorry for whatever you have gone through because of me” he embraced her and kissed her hair as he used to do when she was still little. Oyinda began to weep.
Brian: “Don’t be a crybaby now, it is almost over, we will leave this fucked up place for good, dad and mom are no longer here. It is us against the world now” he embraced her, then his eyes saw a man dressed in plainclothes, and the hairs at the back of his head stood up, he knew already that he was in trouble.
Brian: “Oyinda what have you done, did you set me up?” he pushed her away and made to run away.
Detective: “Stop there!” he had his gun drawn out. Yet, Brian still ran, but he forgot the glass door of the restaurant in his haste, and went through the door with his head.
Oyinda: “Ye oh, egba mi o, Brian!” she wailed as she watched her brother stabbed on both sides by the ragged ends of the broken glass door. Brian fell and the police rushed to his side, they loaded him in their van and rushed him to the hospital. But before they got there, he died in the van. There was no way he could survive, the glass had stabbed him near his heart and perforated it. The news of his death spread like wildfire, at the same time, the police flooded the internet and news waves with the fake news of Bimpe’s fast recovery.
Alhaja was in her hideout, since the day they attacked Bimpe, she had been on edge, watching the news for any snippet of information about Bimpe. She was consumed with rage when she found out Bimpe was recovering.
Alhaja: “It seems you are a cat with 9 lives, but if I have to kill you 9 times I will. I will not rest until you are out of this world.” She got the information about the hospital she was in, and this time she decided she could not entrust anybody with this task, she had to do it alone. She put on her burka, it made her feel invincible because she could walk in anywhere and they wouldn’t k now she was the fugitive they were looking for. At the hospital’s lobby, she inquired for Bimpe’s room at the nurses’ station. A detective was standing by and heard her inquiry, he looked at her and none of her body was showing. He did not know why, but his instinct told him to watch her. Perhaps it was his distrust for women in Burkas, borne out of his days with the army fighting suicide bombers in Bauchi state. He followed her covertly as she climbed up the stairs; she went to Bimpe’s room.
Alhaja was pleased when she saw that the floor where Bimpe’s room is was deserted.
Alhaja: ‘I want to see your eyes when you face death at my hands. This time I will not spare you” she said and opened the door quietly. As she entered the room, the whirring of machines was deafening, she looked at Bimpe and saw that contrary to the news, she was nowhere near recovery. She’s long dead. She wondered why the media would give false news, then it occurred to her it might have been put on the news on purpose, and she had just walked into a trap. She rushed back to the door and opened it. Alas it was too late, she starred into the nozzle of a detective’s gun, and two others stood behind him, with their guns drawn. She raised her hands up in surrender, she cried in her heart, because she had failed. But she was comforted with the fact that Bimpe might not live. One of the detectives who was a radical, used his pocket knife and tore through the burka, to reveal Alhaja’s face.
Detective: “Well well well, Alhaja Zainab it was nice that you could join us, we have been looking for you everywhere, thanks for coming to us” he turned her around and shoved her at the wall. They handcuffed her and took her away.
When Yusuf heard that his mother had been arrested, he came back to Nigeria, he heard that she and Brian had attempted Bimpe’s life and now Bimpe was fighting for her life. From the airport, he rushed to the hospital. There in the courtyard, people were already lighting candles and keeping flowers under Bimpe’s picture.
Yusuf: “Who did this, she is not dead yet” He rushed into the lobby and asked for Bimpe’s room. As he was climbing the staircase, he brought out his prayer beads and began to pray. He blamed himself for what happened to Bimpe, she loved him, but he was consumed with getting his father’s properties back that he could not see. Reaching Bimpe’s room, he was shocked at how lifeless she was. Gone was the strong Bimpe, in her place was a weak lifeless body.
Yusuf: “I am here now, forgive me, please my love forgive my foolishness. Do not give up, fight for us, give us a second chance” he began to cry. Something strange happened, Bimpe began to jerk. The machine she was connected to, began to beep, she was having a flat line. Doctor Dapo rushed in, with some nurses and they tried to resuscitate her.
Dapo: “My little one, daddy is here now, your real dad is here, and don’t you want to hear my part of the story?”
Bimpe: “I sure do” Bimpe said as she opened her eyes. Everyone was beyond shocked; they could not believe their eyes. They began to clap. Ladejo hearing the jubilation inside rushed in with his wife.
Bimpe: “Mother? Father?” she said looking at them quizzically. Then the memory of what happened to her flooded her mind and she cringed.
Bimpe: “Brian tried to kill me, he shot me, and his men did too” she said weakly.
Dapo: “Don’t say anything, you need to recover first”
Bimpe: “So you are a doctor? Thank you for saving my life even though I caused the loss of your friend’s”
Dapo: “You are my daughter; I would give my life if it would save you”
Bimpe: “What?” she looked at her parents.
Ladejo: “Yes it is true”
Dapo told her that he did not believe Basirat and he was scared, after much pleading, Bimpe forgave him and embraced him.
Bimpe: “I also have a story to tell, but I want it live, broadcasted to the world”
They got a television station to broadcast it exclusively.
Bimpe: “This is my story” she told them about going to the University, falling in love with a boy and getting pregnant, she told them about the betrayal, the abortion, the scandal in the village. She also told them about leaving the village and the decision to pursue money instead of love, meeting Alhaji Dambazzau and marrying him. Here she apologized to Dominic for using him the way she did, and begged his forgiveness.
Television anchor: “So the question on all our minds is, did you kill Alhaji”
Bimpe: “I had no hand in Alhaji’s death, but I knew he was going to be killed. I was going to see Alhaji in the office one day when I passed a corridor, two men were discussing, i would passed on my way, but I heard Alhaji’s name called, I hid somewhere to listen. I was shocked when I heard that the security men and one of his body guards were on their payroll. I decided I would tell Alhaji; perhaps he would be so happy that I saved his life and he would reward me with something big. But as I made to leave, a hand gripped mine. Behold the third associate had seen me, they dragged me into the corridor and threatened to kill me and track down my family. I wanted to call their bluff but they already saw me flinch at the mention of my family and knew they had me. They were going to kill Alhaji and there was nothing I could do about it. I did not want to lose at both ends, so I made a deal with them. They helped me manipulate Alhaji’s will with the help of Barrister Demba, in exchange I kept their secret and also gave them business priority in the companies in my care. This was a Wrong Turn I took, though the offer was a good attraction but fatal one. These old men were part of a group called the Cabal, and Alhaji was among them, he fell out with them and they decided to remove him from the scene.”
Before the end of that day, the police came and handcuffed her hand to the bed, they would wait till she recovered before they arrested her. Bimpe recovered and was arrested for being an accessory to murder. In a short trial she was convicted. By this time, her relationship with Yusuf was going through healing. She was sentenced to two years in prison. After six months in prison in which she became closer to God, and her family members especially her real dad, the Group for Woman Rights and Emancipation took up her case. It was repealed and it was ruled that she was threatened, she did not speak out due to self preservation, and there was nothing else she could have done. All charges against Alhaja was dropped, and fresh charges for her attempt on Bimpe’s life was made. She was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Bimpe became free after 8 months in jail. She returned all the assets to Yusuf, and the ones she got from Chief Bamigboye she gave to Charity organizations because Oyinda was nowhere to be found.
Dominic watched Bimpe’s revelation on television, he cried when he heard all she had been through. He forgave her after carrying the grudge for so long. It was time for him to move on with his life and love someone else.
Barrister Demba was in his office one day when he was subpoenaed by the Nigerian Bar association. His role in changing Alhaji’s will was reviewed and he was disbarred and his license to practice law was revoked. Bimpe gave the shares she had in CYTRON COMPANY to him (Barrister Demba)
Oyinda left Nigeria after burying her father in a quiet funeral; she went to Ghana to start afresh While Bimpe started an advertising company with her finances. Yusuf wanted the, to get married, but Bimpe had cold feet towards.
Bimpe: “Give me time; I have been married more than most people my age. I want to go back to school;. Education remains the best legacy”
Yusuf: “You are right. I am here for you, not going anywhere” they embraced. Dapo watched them from his place bat the breakfast table and smiled. God came through for him and his daughter, they had both been giving a second chance at life. Not everyone got second chances.
No comments:
Post a Comment