Chapter 5: Money No Fit Buy Secret

As lawyer, I no give up after first try.

I go see Musa wife like seven times because of forgiveness letter.

But she no see me again.

She dey avoid me like bad spirit. Sometimes, she go send her daughter tell me, "Mummy say she no dey house."

As police dey check Mr. Auwalu, the project manager, dem begin see result.

……

Mr. Auwalu, project manager for Palm Grove construction site:

No be gangster, no get any bad record, just ordinary worker wey dey collect 65,000 naira per month.

All him property—car, house, bank—no reach two million. Na keke and one small plot for outskirts. Savings no pass 200k. E fit dash out 1.2 million?

No evidence say he and Chuka get any link—no camera, no call, nothing.

When police ask Mr. Auwalu, the guy even confuse:

He talk say he just dey work, no get beef with anybody.

Even if e get, to the point of kill person, he go offer wetin him hand reach. If he get 1.2 million, why he go dey work?

He even ask police—Musa dey threaten am? Where the money?

All Mr. Auwalu salary dey enter bank, every kobo dey record. If he pay blackmail, dem suppose see am.

Police just quiet.

E make sense.

With all these, nothing show say Mr. Auwalu do contract killing.

After nine days, police close case.

We no even fit appeal—court don start second trial.

……

September 5, 2014.

Second trial.

Some Chuka classmates and journalists dey watch.

Because of the contract killing angle, journalists just dey quiet, like say dem dey wait for tomorrow headline.

Compared to first trial, prosecution get more to talk.

Including Chuka accusation say Mr. Auwalu send am.

Prosecutor talk:

"About the accusation say Mr. Auwalu send Chuka, we don check everything.

No evidence say Mr. Auwalu and Chuka do any business, or say Mr. Auwalu get beef with Musa. As law talk, if evidence no dey, we no fit jail Mr. Auwalu.

So, our stand never change. We still dey ask for death sentence."

As he finish, people for gallery begin boo.

Journalists vex—the contract killing story don die, headline don vanish.

Classmates dey boo because dem no trust police. Mr. Auwalu na manager; dem believe say him get money and people, so police dey cover am.

After judge knock gavel and shout "order," everywhere calm.

……

As prosecutor finish, Chuka just shout:

"Everything I talk na true! Mr. Auwalu promise me 1.2 million! Na true!"

Even though I feel say Mr. Auwalu use money and power escape, as lawyer, I gats follow law.

I look Mr. Auwalu for witness box. The look wey he give me and Chuka no get name.

E be like say:

"Wetin you wan do me?"

My body just dey shake.

This man arrange killing, but because no evidence, he dey waka free?

……

The result no surprise anybody.

No evidence say Mr. Auwalu arrange killing.

No forgiveness letter from victim family.

Second trial still give death sentence.

The judge voice dry, but the words heavy. Na so hope just die for court that day.