Chapter 2: Mama Matter No Be Play

I ask Chuka the question wey dey my mind:

"You really kill am just because of that push matter?"

Wetin he talk surprise me:

"He insult my mama."

As he talk am, e voice shake small. For Naija, mama matter na red line. To touch person mama for mouth, na big wahala. If you like, gentle reach saint, once dem carry your mama enter insult, na fight. E pain.

To insult person mama—any man wey get blood no fit take am. But at most, you go fight, maybe throw blow. Chuka kill am.

E dey somehow, but if you look am, e fit make sense.

Two years before, Chuka parents dey work for quarry. The quarry collapse, both of dem die for there. Chuka lose both parents in one night, only him and small brother remain.

No be small thing. For that compound, people still dey talk about the night wey thunder strike and earth shake. Since then, Chuka dey carry bitterness like load for chest.

Since then, he no fit hear anybody joke about him parents. Even that common swear wey involve mama—if he hear am, fight go burst.

So, I no push the matter again. I just check well say wetin the police write correct.

After Chuka talk say, "No mistake," I ask am if police force am or torture am for confession.

Chuka answer,

"No."

That one just spoil my hope more.

I dey try help Chuka get small mercy, but now, I no see any chance. I just stick to my plan, tell Chuka:

"I go call your classmates make dem talk say you suffer, no get money, always behave well. Maybe e go help for sentence."

Chuka nod head.

Na so e always dey nod for class. Quiet, no dey talk too much. I dey see tears for corner of his eye, but e just bone, dey swallow everything like agbalumo.

Last last, I bring out the autopsy report for the victim, Musa, give Chuka, talk:

"Musa body show say him bone and muscle don suffer, joint get wahala, him get ulcer, and late-stage cancer dey worry am."

I give Chuka the report, as if I dey hope say e go touch am small:

"The man na labourer. Even if you no hang am, him days no too remain."

Na all I talk.

Chuka just look down, quiet.

Room silent. I dey expect small tears or at least a word, but Chuka mouth tight. I feel say guilt dey eat am, but e no want show for public.

……

The first trial start August 26.

Makurdi High Court, that day, sun hot like fire. Everybody dey fan self with file. The judge, old man with white beard, look like him dey wonder why him still dey this work.

I call Chuka classmates, some teachers wey gree talk for am, the oga for him part-time work, and some people from the site.

I call even that my friend Nedu, wey dey always help for church drama. Everybody try talk good for Chuka. But, e no easy.

I try reach Chuka brother, but nothing. After many try, I just leave am.

Dem say the brother don waka go farm for Otukpo, no get phone. I even send message with okada, e no return.

My plan na to use Chuka good character and the fact say he surrender, make dem pity am small.

Prosecutor get full evidence. He bring site manager Mr. Auwalu, some workers, and Musa wife and daughter.

For this trial, prosecutor ask make dem give Chuka death sentence.

Me, I dey argue for 15 years.

Na so court dey. You go dey beg, dey calculate, dey pray say judge get soft mind that day. I dey sweat, my voice dey shake.

……

The trial wahala long, but I go just talk the main things.

My main talk be say Musa dey provoke Chuka plenty, so Musa get small blame, and since Chuka don talk the truth, make court pity am.

This one vex Musa wife. She hold her daughter, point at me and Chuka, dey shout:

"My husband na good man, no dey fight anybody. You kill am, now you dey spoil him name! You no be human! You no be human!"

The pressure wey I feel that time no be here. I just bone her shouting.

E pain me, but as lawyer, I dey form strong. My palm dey sweat under table, I dey look judge, dey beg for eye.

Chuka just keep head down, dey talk sorry, sorry.

He dey mumble like prayer, voice low. E be like say spirit don leave am. Him slippers dey shake for ground.

Later, Musa wife faint for witness stand.

People for gallery begin shout “Eyaa!” and some women rush go help her with sachet water. As dem carry her comot, her daughter dey cry follow. That day, my mind really scatter between my work and my conscience.

If you ever see woman faint for court, you go know say law get limit. My heart dey beat, I nearly forget my own name.

……

Later, prosecutor focus on the fact say Chuka call police before the murder and no gree stop as Musa dey hang.

He talk say Chuka plan am, do am with clear mind, just dey hope say dem go pity am.

The prosecutor words hit me:

"Everybody dey vex sometimes. If everybody dey act like Chuka, law go mean nothing, and people go just dey do anyhow. Chuka na just person wey dey pour him anger—character no join."

With that one, my defence no get power again.

No matter how I try, the result no change.

Last last, the judge give Chuka death sentence.

The gavel knock for table, e echo for court. My chest freeze. I look Chuka, I no fit talk anything.