Episode. 5
900 Words
---
*SOLD: THE CORRUPTION OF JUSTICE*
_by Ilyasu H.S_
*Chapter 2: THE SUPREME COURT*
_∼2100 words_
*LONDON. PARLIAMENT SQUARE. 3:00 AM. 2029*
No public. No press.
Just black cars. And a basement under the Supreme Court.
Zara and Tunde weren’t supposed to be here.
Barrister Khan got them in.
“The Committee lost the lower courts,” she said.
“So now they’re buying the highest court in the land.”
On the wall:
*“THE FINAL COURT OF APPEAL”*
Under it, in red spray paint from last night:
*“FOR SALE”*
*HISTORY LESSON #1: 2009 - THE SUPREME COURT WAS BORN*
The Chairman stood under the Lady Justice statue.
Same white suit. No blindfold this time.
“2009,” he said. “We moved the Law Lords out of Parliament.
Created this shiny new Supreme Court.
‘Independent,’ they said.”
He laughed.
“Independence is expensive.
And we can afford it.”
*THE LOTS: THE HIGHEST BIDDERS*
The screen was massive. Gold frame.
*LOT #1: SUPREME COURT JUSTICE - SEAT A*
_Lifetime Appointment. Veto Power Over Parliament_
_Starting Bid: £50 Million “Donation” to Judicial Foundation_
*LOT #2: SUPREME COURT JUSTICE - SEAT B*
_Lifetime Appointment. Final Say on Human Rights_
_Starting Bid: £50 Million_
*LOT #3: THE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS COMMISSION*
_“Pick who becomes a judge for the next 20 years”_
_Starting Bid: £30 Million_
*LOT #4: THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT*
_“Repeal it. Sell it. Burn it.”_
_Starting Bid: £100 Million_
Bidding started.
Hedge Fund Peer: “£60 Million for Seat A”
Oil Billionaire: “£70 Million”
Foreign Tech Mogul: “£100 Million for Both Seats”
Tunde grabbed Zara’s arm. “They’re buying the law itself.”
*HOT: HISTORY LESSON #2: HOW IT’S ALWAYS WORKED*
The Chairman pointed at portraits on the wall.
“1876: We bought judges to end Reconstruction.
1911: We bought the Parliament Act.
2016: Brexit. £8 Billion spent. Dark money won.”
He looked at the camera.
“Britain. You don’t have laws.
You have invoices.”
*SWEET: THE PEOPLE’S OBJECTION*
Barrister Khan stood up. No wig.
“Objection.”
The Auctioneer laughed. “This isn’t a real court.”
“No,” Khan said. “But this is.”
She opened her phone.
Livestream. 80 Million viewers.
And behind her: *THE PEOPLE.*
Nurses from the NHS. Teachers. Dock workers.
Students from LSE. Imams. Rabbis.
Led by Mrs. Thompson and 200 people from Peckham, Birmingham, Glasgow.
They filled the gallery. Sat in the Justices’ chairs.
Mrs. Thompson held up a letter.
“My grandson Tunde. Age 12.
Nearly sold last month for £200 a day.
The law should protect him. Not price him.”
Then 12 retired judges walked in.
Led by Lord Davies. Former Supreme Court Justice.
“We resign in protest,” he said.
“If this court can be bought,
then we will not sit on it.”
12 empty chairs. On live TV.
*THE TWIST: THE MAGNA CARTA*
The Chairman was furious.
“Security! Clear them!”
But the guards didn’t move.
Because on every screen, the livestream was playing.
Then the lights cut.
Emergency lights on.
When they came back, the big screen showed documents.
*LEAKED: 2010-2029*
*“£200 Million in ‘donations’ to judicial charities”*
*“Peerages sold for party funding”*
*“Memo: ‘Delay climate case until after election’”*
At the bottom:
*THE BUYER’S LIST*
Names of MPs, Peers, Donors.
Zara stepped forward.
“My name is Zara Adebayo. I’m 19.
I’m from Peckham. My parents came here in 2005.
You tried to sell my brother.
Tonight, we’re buying our country back.”
She pulled out a document.
*THE PEOPLE’S BILL: JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE ACT 2029*
Ban all donations. Public funding for courts. Elected oversight panel.
*END OF CHAPTER 2*
The auction collapsed.
The Committee fled through the Thames tunnel. Again.
*1 WEEK LATER*
10 Peers resigned.
3 Supreme Court nominees withdrew.
*THE JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE ACT* passed 400-50 in the Commons.
Fastest in 50 years.
*1 MONTH LATER*
Legal aid was restored.
Private youth prisons closed.
Tunde went back to school.
Zara stood on the steps of the Supreme Court.
Rain. Union Jacks. People cheering.
On her phone: a news alert.
*THE COMMITTEE: LAST SEEN ON PRIVATE JET TO DUBAI.*
Barrister Khan put a hand on her shoulder.
“Is it over?”
Zara looked at the building.
“No,” she said. “They’ll try the EU next. Or the UN.”
She held up the paper from Chapter 1.
*LOT #48: ZARA ADEBAYO*
“Status is still PENDING.”
Tunde smiled. “Then Book 3?”
Zara folded the paper.
“Book 3: SOLD: THE CORRUPTION OF THE WORLD.”
“We take it global.”
*TO BE CONTINUED IN BOOK 3*
---
*REAL UK HISTORY WE USED:*
1. *2009*: Supreme Court of the UK was created, separate from House of Lords.
2. *Legal Aid Cuts 2013*: LASPO. 40% cut. Broke access to justice.
3. *Peerages & Donations*: Ongoing scandal. "Cash for Honours" 2006.
4. *Human Rights Act 1998*: Constantly under threat of repeal.
🇬🇧 *UK ARC COMPLETE.*
The people won the courts. But The Committee is still out there.
*BOOK 3: SOLD: THE CORRUPTION OF THE WORLD* with Zara taking the fight to Dubai, Geneva, and the UN
- Writer
