Chapter 6: Checkmate

We rush back station. Baba Chinedu don already go.

I shout, “Who release am?”

Deputy Director and CID boss Mr. Fashola answer me with straight face, “Na me. We don hold am twelve hours. By law, we suppose let am go.”

The man just dey look me, no blink, no smile. Police law tight like wrapper for harmattan.

I vex but no fit do anything. “But Umaru no dey pig farm. Dem don move am.”

My voice dey crack, as if frog dey my throat. For inside my mind, wahala dey dance.

Mr. Fashola ask, “You get direct evidence say na Baba Chinedu do am?”

“Im fingerprint dey for the pipe, no be so?”

“Na only im fingerprint dey?”

Of course not.

Scaffolding pipe dey everywhere—fingerprint full am.

That time, I feel as if ground dey swallow me. Forensics no dey ever lie; law no dey bend for person pain.

I understand wetin Mr. Fashola mean. For forensics, pipe wey get many fingerprint no fit prove say na Baba Chinedu do am.

For Nigeria, no evidence—no case. Na so e be.

I dey so worried, I no fit stand. “Baba Chinedu just tell me say Umaru dey pig farm, and we see im watch there. That one mean say he know where Umaru dey. He dey highly suspicious. I suggest make we apply for warrant.”

My head dey bang, my hand dey shake for file. For my mind, na prayer dey my lips.

Mr. Fashola no shake. “Evidence? You off CCTV. Prosecutor go gree approve arrest only because you talk? Baba Chinedu fit deny say he no tell you anything.”

I feel like say I enter cold freezer.

So, all my action na part of Baba Chinedu plan.

He push me reach edge, make me break rule, and na when I off CCTV he begin drop clue.

The man dey play chess; I dey play ludo.

He dey set me up, step by step.

Mr. Fashola add salt: “After he comot from interrogation, Baba Chinedu report say you beat am, demand medical check, threaten say he go report you for above. I send Sani follow am, call hospital, tell dem make dem careful with the report. Old Bello, you don enter big wahala this time.”

Na only God fit save me now. For this job, once you fall for trap, na only heaven fit wash you clean.