Triumph of evil

BREAKING NEWS

Chioma was in their sitting room watching television when it was time for the national news. She was indifferent to the news being cast. She believed there was no good news on the media.

"They should just finish their 'yeye' news and continue with the soap opera 'jare'."

The newscaster first mentioned the news highlights before he delved into the main news items. Chioma was busy munching popcorn when something startled her. It was the mention of a name Steven Obasi.

"A man in his early twenties, Mr. Steve Obasi has been sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment for d**g trafficking..." said the newscaster.

"E-woo! Steve! Going to prison! For d**g trafficking!" Exclaimed Chioma.

"God! Steve! But could Steve have pushed the drugs? Steve of all people! In prison! Eh-h! Ah-h!"

As Chioma was lamenting the fate of Steve, her mother entered wondering what the problem was.

"Aha! Chioma, what's the problem? Why did you shout like that now? You scared me." She complained as she looked for a seat.

"Ehm! Mummy, do you still remember Steve, that boy who came to look for me here sometime ago?"

"Which boy is that?"

"The boy that we went to school together in Ibadan. The one you sent away."

"Oh! That stupid insolent boy! What happened to him? Don't tell me you are still seeing him O!"

"Mummy, there you go again. What has he done to you that you are abusing him now!"

"I'm not abusing him. I'm just telling you the kind of person he is. But what happened to him that made you react the way you did?"

"Ehm! You see, I-I just heard over the television now that... h-he has been sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment!"

"Ehen! Fifteen years imprisonment! For what?" Screamed Chioma's mother.

"Ehm, they said for d-d**g trafficking."

"Ehe! d**g trafficking! Good God! I know! I know from the day I set my eyes on that boy that he is evil. I know that boy was up to something sinister."My spirit just did not flow with him. Ehen! d**g trafficking! That's the boy you wanted to be going out with. I just thank God that he did not use you for his money rituals.

'Ah-ah, but mummy, why are you talking like this? Steve couldn't have committed that crime. Steve cannot harm a fly.'

'Look at this stupid, mum girl! Steve cannot harm a fly.' She mimicked sarcastically, 'who is talking about fly here? We are talking about d**g trafficking, she is talking about fly. If he can't hurt a fly but can kill a human being, what about that?'

'But mum, I-I-think I'll find a way of helping him.'

'Um? Help who?' her mother asked with shock.

'Steve of course!'

'Holy Ghost! You want to help eh-m Steve or whatever you call his name? Chioma! Eh! Aha! It's now very clear to me!'

'W-what is clear to you?'

'That you're the most foolish human being walking the face of the earth! You want to help a boy that treated you like a rag. A boy that dared to a***e me in my house, in your presence! And to cap it all, a d**g trafficker, a convict! Aha! Chioma, you're stupid, foolish, daft. Chei! This can't be my daughter!'

'But mum, all these things you said Steve did were caused by you.'

'Oh-o! They were caused by me. I asked him to go and d**g baron, abi? You said it that you're a foolish human being, Chioma! Aha! Something must have tampered with your reasoning faculty.'

'Look, mum, there is no amount of a***e or intimidation that can make me change my mind. I'm going to help him and that is it. I don't know the reason why you can't see anything good in that boy. He is not as bad as you are trying to paint him.'

'I cannot see anything good in a d**g pusher! You hear that!' She said as she stormed out of the sitting room.

Chioma left the sitting room without listening to the rest of the news after she has seen that it was the Steve Obasi she knew. She started thinking. How could she help Steve? 'I don't have any means to hire a lawyer. So how do I help him? What do I do?'

Yes! I'll go to his house and see his mother. May be through her, I can see him and know what really happened.

The next day, she traced Rebecca's house and met the gateman.

'Hello sir. Good morning,' she greeted Aliyu the gateman.

'Good morning. How you dey?' Aliyu asked with a sheepish grin.

'I'm fine. I'm asking of madam

'Madam? Madam no dey house O! She don go for her shop.'

'Her shop?'

'Yes, her shop. She don comot since morning.'

'Please do you know where her shop is?'

'I know the place, but who you be sef?'

'I'm sorry. I'm her son's friend.'

'Her son's friend?' the gateman repeated mechanically 'you mean Oga Steven.'

'Yes, Steve.'

'Eh yaa! Na wah O! Oga Steve!' The gateman shook his head sorrowfully. 'You know sey Oga Steve dey kirikiri ko?' Chioma nods in affirmation.

'See, her shop dey for Aguda for Surulere. You go see am if you reach the junction where all the Okada people dey stay.'

'Okay. Thank you Oga. I'll check her there.'

'Alright. Bye bye,' the gateman waved to her.

Chioma was able to locate the shop easily. When she got there, she saw some of the salesgirls who rushed toward her thinking she was a prospective customer.

'Auntie, what do you want to buy?' One of the salesgirls asked courteously.

'Nothing, at least for today.' She replied with mild urgency. 'I'm here to see the madam.'

'Okay. From where?'

'From Lagos here, Ketu to be precise. Tell her Steve's friend.'

'Alright. I'll deliver your message to her.' The girl responded as she moved toward Rebecca's office.

As she waited for the salesgirl to return, Chioma looked around the shop and admired the whole place.

'M-en! This place is eye-popping! Splendid! This woman is in money. With all these, why did Steve get himself involved in d**g trafficking?' she thought within herself.

The salesgirl returned and told Chioma that Rebecca had asked her to enter. She thanked the girl and made her way to the office. She knocked and a voice from within answered telling her to enter. As she entered, she saw Rebecca browsing through her laptop computer.

'Good morning, ma,' Chioma greeted her.

'Good morning, my dear. Please have your seat.'

'Thank you, ma,' she expressed her gratitude as she tried to have her seat.

Rebecca looked at her inquiringly. 'Have I met you somewhere before then... I don't think so ma. I'm seeing you for the first time.'

'I see. Sorry, are you... What's that name again?'

Chioma!' She answered excitedly.

'Chioma? No, it's an English name. Yes. I can remember I think its Sally or something.'

'Aha! No, I'm Chioma.'

'Okay! No problem. Chioma, I learnt you're Steve's friend.'

'Yes-ma!'

'How may I help you?'

'I'm here because of Steve ma.'

'Because of Steve? How?'

'I learnt about what happened to him.' She said deliberately avoiding the mention of imprisonment in order not to hurt Rebecca's feeling.

'That's what happened my dear.' Rebecca said resignedly.

'But we are looking at what we can do.'

'That's fine, ma. that's why I'm here to know if there is a way I could be of assistance.'

'Thank you. I appreciate your concern. I've contacted my lawyer. We're going to appeal against the judgment.'

'Oh! I'm happy to hear that ma. Please we need to make it as soon as possible. I know Steve couldn't have committed that crime.' Chioma concluded.

'I am surprised too my dear. I know that God will see us through and Steve will surely come out.'

'Amen, ma. Steve must leave the prison.'

Rebecca looks intently at Chioma again. 'Ehm, my dear, sorry, if I may ask, who are you to Steve?'

'We're friends when we were in the university of Ibadan.'

'Eh-en! And you live in Lagos here?'

'Yes, ma. I live in Ketu.'

'That's good. No problem. I shall see more of you.'

'When are you seeing him or don't they allow you to see him?'

'I do see him. That'll be next week.'

'When ma?'

'Tuesday.'

'What time, ma?'

'By ten in the morning. Do you want to go with me?'

'I'll be here by then, ma.'

'Alright. Thanks for your concern. I'll be expecting you. How about your parents?'

'They are fine. Thank you ma.'

'Extend my greeting to them when you get home.' Rebecca said dipping her hands into her bag. 'Have this for your transport,' she handed Chioma three thousand naira note.

'Aha! Thank you ma! I'm very grateful, ma.'

'Oh! That's no problem.' Rebecca responded off-handedly.

'Bye ma.'

'Bye my dear. I'll be expecting you!'

'I'll surely come, ma.'

Rebecca sat on her chair and was wondering about something.

'Where is that Sally of a girl that Steve brought home to me? Did she not hear about what happened to Steve?'

'Who is this Chioma that just appeared from nowhere? Steve never told me anything about Chioma.'

'Steve and girls. Could it be that it was these girls that pushed him to do what he did? Anyway, that is not important now. Let him get out of this mess before we talk about that one.'