CHAPTER 10: THE JAM TRIAL
1176 Words
CHAPTER 10: THE JAM TRIAL
*8:00 AM. Monday. Federal High Court, Abuja – Courtroom 3.*
The cameras were waiting.
*PBC News. Aurora 24. The National Herald.*
*#THE28TRIAL* trending on Dreame Live.
Ada wore white. Not for innocence. For Hauwa. For 312.
Fatima wore black. For her sister.
Outside: 312 students. Holding placards. *“WE ARE NOT 28”*
Inside: VC Amadi. Resigned last night. 10:03 PM. After Chapter 6 dropped on Dreame. Her daughter’s Law admission letter was page 4 of the USB.
She sat in the gallery. Head down. No white coat. Just a mother.
*8:17 AM.*
“All rise.”
Judge Justice Amina Yusuf. Woman. 60s. Face like granite.
In the dock: 3 men.
*1. Dr. Kene Obi Senior* – Already pled guilty. 15 years. Head shaved. Orange jumpsuit.
*2. Dr. Kene Obi Junior* – No plea. Suit. Tie. Smiling. The 28 smile.
*3. Prof. Kenechukwu Obi* – No suit. No tie. Hospital gown. Cuffed to a wheelchair. CIB said he had a “stroke” in custody. Ada didn’t believe it.
“Prosecution calls first witness,” Justice Yusuf said. “Miss Ada Chioma Okoro.”
Ada walked to the stand. Bible in hand.
“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
“I do,” Ada said. “I already posted it on Dreame.”
Laughter. Nervous. The judge didn’t smile.
CIB Prosecutor: “Miss Okoro, tell the court about June 14, 2025. Room 304.”
Ada told it. All of it. The 180. The USB. “Six months.” The “PERSONAL” column. The CIB sting.
Then: “The 28 email. August 9, 2025.”
She held up her phone. “They changed 328 to 28. Because I posted Chapter 1 on Dreame.”
Kene Junior laughed. Loud. “Objection! She’s a writer. Fiction. Dreame is not evidence.”
Justice Yusuf: “Overruled. Dreame post from August 9, 7:17 PM, with 512,000 reads, matches JAM server timestamp for score alteration: August 9, 6:49 PM. It’s evidence. Continue, Miss Okoro.”
Ada continued. “Prof. Kenechukwu offered me 28 for six years. In Anatomy 101 at *FUEN*. August 18, 2025. I scored 94 instead.”
She held up her script. Red 94. His snapped pen.
Then: “The real USB. October 3, 2025. 9:30 PM. I posted it.”
Prosecutor played it on the court screen.
*KENE_OBI_15_YEARS.zip*
Names. 312 names. Scores. 28. 29. 31. Expelled.
Payments. VC Amadi: ₦2M. 2009. Dean of Sciences: ₦5M. 2012. Registrar: ₦10M. 2018.
The gallery gasped.
VC Amadi stood. “I resign,” she said again. Loud. “I pay for my daughter’s sin. But these children—” she pointed at the 312 outside “—they don’t pay for mine. Close *FUEN* if you must. But give them their lives back.”
She walked out.
Silence.
Prosecutor: “No further questions.”
Kene Junior’s Lawyer: “Cross-examination.”
He stood. Shark smile. “Miss Okoro. You’re 18. You write fiction for money. ₦15 million, yes? From Dreame?”
“Yes.”
“So you have motive to lie,” he said. “More drama, more money. You fabricated 28. You fabricated the USB. You—”
“Exhibit B,” Ada said.
The prosecutor handed the judge a phone.
*Recording. August 9, 7:20 PM. Voice: Kene Junior.*
_“Six months becomes six years. Or 28 becomes 0. And not just JAM. WAEC. NECO. Your entire academic life. Deleted.”_
Kene Junior’s smile died.
“Is that your voice, Dr. Obi?” Justice Yusuf asked.
He didn’t answer.
“Is that your voice?” Louder.
“...Yes.”
“Miss Okoro,” Justice Yusuf said. “You may step down. You are a doctor. Court recognizes you as such.”
---
*11:03 AM. Recess.*
Fatima found Ada outside.
“Junior’s lawyer wants a deal,” Fatima said. “25 years. No trial. If we don’t open the _full_ USB in court. There’s more, Ada. Names not on Dreame. Senators. Governors. JAM Registrar himself.”
Ada looked at the 312 students. At Hauwa’s mother on PBC News, watching from *FUEN Hospital*. BP: 140/90. Stable.
“What did Hauwa’s mum say?” Ada asked. “Last night?”
“Tell the truth. Even if it burns us.”
Ada nodded. “No deal. Open everything.”
---
*2:00 PM. Court Resumes.*
Prosecutor: “The State calls Fatima Bello.”
Fatima testified. About Hauwa. About Bed 7 at *FUEN Hospital*. About 41 in Anatomy. About the past questions.
Then: “Exhibit C. Hauwa Bello’s suicide note. 2022.”
She read it.
_“Dear Mummy, I’m sorry. I’m too dumb for medicine. Prof K said 28. 28 means I should die. I love you. – Hauwa”_
The courtroom cried. Even the CIB officers.
Kene Junior put his head on the table.
Prof. Kenechukwu in the wheelchair started shaking. “Not... not my fault... the system... the parents pay... I just...”
“Silence,” Justice Yusuf said.
*4:47 PM. Closing Arguments.*
Prosecutor: “28 was a weapon. Wielded for 15 years. By 3 men. Against 312 children. One child died. We ask for life. For all three.”
Kene Junior’s Lawyer: “My client was... pressured. By his father. By the system. He’s young. 32. He can be reformed. 10 years.”
Justice Yusuf stood.
“Judgment.”
The room froze.
“Dr. Kene Obi Senior: 15 years. Already served. Guilty plea accepted.”
“Dr. Kene Obi Junior: You changed 328 to 28. You threatened to make it 0. You killed Hauwa Bello as surely as if you gave her poison. You are not young. You are evil.” She paused. “Life imprisonment. No parole.”
Junior screamed. CIB dragged him out.
“Prof. Kenechukwu Obi: You built the empire. You gave your sons the weapon. You took 312 futures. You took one life.”
She looked at Ada. At Fatima. At the 312 outside.
“Life imprisonment. You will die in prison, Professor. And your 28 dies with you.”
Gavel.
Bang.
Over.
---
*6:03 PM. Court Steps.*
PBC News cameras. 312 students. Chanting.
*“WE ARE NOT 28! WE ARE DOCTORS!”*
Ada walked out with Fatima.
Mr. Jude was there. Crying again. “94, Ada. You got 94.”
Daddy was there. Mummy was there. Hauwa’s mother was there. In a wheelchair. From *FUEN Hospital*. BP: 130/80.
She hugged Ada. “Hauwa saw, my daughter. From heaven. She saw 28 die.”
Ada’s phone buzzed.
*Dreame Notification: ₦25,000,000 Contract Signed. Book 1 Complete.*
*New Contract: Book 2 – DOCTOR IMOH JESSICA UGOCHI – ₦50,000,000*
Ada looked at Fatima. “Book 2 is not me.”
Fatima smiled. “I know. Mr. Jude said. 189 girl. Port Harcourt. Physics 41.”
She handed Ada a new JAM booklet.
*JAM PHYSICS 2026 – 41→80 – FOR DR. IMOH*
“Your turn,” Fatima said. “We broke 28. She breaks 41.”
- Writer
