Thread by @savndaniel

THE WOMAN!
DONT KILL YOURSELF BECAUSE OF ONE!

"Two sentences landed him in prison for eleven years awaiting trial for murder:
(a) "l will kill you today"
and
(b) "tell your parents to prepare for your funeral."

Both sentences were said in the heat of a quarrel.

There was no physical contact or fight between two of them.

One went home and died at exactly 11 pm on the 20th of June, 1999. The other was arrested by the police based on a complaint by the widow of the deceased alleging murder and he was taken before the Magistrate Court

,Ebute Metta, Lagos State on a holding charge.

He was remanded in prison custody awaiting trial and was subsequently arraigned in the High Court of Lagos State for murder.

This matter survived four judges and six lawyers.

It was an exasperating case due to the constant transfer of judges and reassignment of the case itself to other courts.

Besides, for all the six lawyers except the first three it was a pro bono service. Pro bono services are not easy.

From obtaining proof of evidence to appearance fees, none is paid by the defendant. In the case of Stephen Solomon Foundation, we give the defendants money for their upkeep. Then it was N10k a month for those in dire need. It is a tasking and taming job.

I sat waiting for him in the Records Office of lkoyi Prison. His name is Mr Izobo from Owan West Local Government Area. He is from Sabongidda Ora. He was said to be taking his medicals so l waited for him patiently.

About 45 minutes later, he came in looking gaunt, weary, sickly and in deep despair.

I understood the way he felt. Eleven years in prison custody had taken its toll on him.

He sat down and we exchanged pleasantries. I went straight to the point.

"Sir, you're going to be out of this place within a year and a half, if you're not convicted".

He laughed and said "you have not made any promise by that statement".

l replied him "Yes, l have not made a promise to you but l have fulfilled a promise to myself and He who

sent me here, Jehovah, to make you laugh and give you hope".

He laughed and said "Sir, this is my first time in eleven years that l have laughed and have hope. Thank you".

What was his story? He said his name is Emmanuel Izobo.

That he was the Chief Accountant of an oil servicing multinational company .
That he is married to Margaret lzobo, a petroleum engineer who lost her job when this matter started.

That he is blessed with three sons and an adopted daughter.

That on the fateful day, NEPA officials came to the area to disconnect those in debt.

That his neighbour, the deceased Mr Jonathan lbe, was owing N100k and he, Mr. Izobo, was not owing.

That Mr lbe removed the receipt he pasted on his wall and pasted same on

his own gate to deceive the NEPA officials. But that the NEPA officials found the fraud and called him to come out to see things for himself.

That the officials also discovered that Mr ibe had bridged his, Mr Izobo's source of supply to

power his sachet water production factory behind his house.

That an argument arose and insults were exchanged not only between himself and Mr Ibe but their wives too.

That the NEPA officials were there when it all happened and supported him and

threatened to report Mr Ibe to the police.That it was when Mr Ibe called his wife a prostitute and his children "not his" and that he is sterile and cannot father a child that was when he uttered the words: "l will kill you today and tell your parents to prepare for your funeral"

That he went home to his house and never came out again that day.

That he was at work the next day when he got a call from his wife that Mr Ibe died the previous night after vomiting and stooling blood.

That Mr Ibe's wife, Juliana, and his wife were once best of friends.

That amongst his worries in prison was the statement of late Mr Ibe that he could not father a child .

That what did or could his wife, have told Mrs Ibe? He was broken.

I told him that the task before me was his freedom. l am not a doctor.

When and if he gets his freedom he may go ahead and do a DNA test.

l have long lost my sense of matrimonial emotions. Sentiments.

I lost it long ago when l found that between staircases, sex is readily available for married couples with outsiders.

In shops and elevators. I lost it when l see a lot of married women lodged in hotels and having good sex with boys not even the match of their husbands.

I cannot and will never demand fidelity from my wife. If she wishes to give it, fine. But don't bring disease home to me.

At 20 years old, l was manager of Zim Hotels, Benin-City, a five star hotel. My late brother's hotel. I saw many things.

I saw married naked women with their teenage boyfriends.
Life is deep I told myself.

Mr Izobo should save me the crap of feeling bad over a wife. No time menhhhhhh!

I have learnt that stolen sex is the SWEETEST.

Adultery is the finest of wine for the wicked. And mankind is wicked.

Mrs lzobo had since stopped coming to see her husband in prison but with the husband's consent had sold their house to fund legal fees and take care of the children. She moved into a rented accommodation.

Trial commenced. Prosecution called seven witnesses. Five testified that they heard Mr izobo make the threat but there was no physical contact between the deceased and himself in their presence.

One said "... a witch flew in the night and a child died in the morning who is responsible?"

The pathologist gave evidence at my cross examination that Mr lbe died of UNKNOWN CAUSES.

That the blood found on Mr Ibe were "suspicious" and looked "very suspicious".

On further cross examination, l asked if by "very suspicious" it included "planted blood or blood imposed on the corpse". He answered in the affirmative and that it could also be as a result of "rough movements" of the corpse or "rogue interference" with same.

l got the court to call the family doctor of the lbes. His evidence was crisp. Incidentally, he was also the doctor of the lzobo family.

He told the court that he made a statement to the police.

That Mr Ibe had chronic hypertension and faints even when driving.

That he had warned him not to do excessive work or actions.

l called the NEPA officials to testify. Their testimony was far reaching.

JUDGEMENT was delivered exactly a year and four months later. Mr izobo was discharged and acquitted.

But later events destroyed him completely for which till date he is a patient in a psychiatric hospital in Ghana on the kindness of his friends.

He lost it when he found out that ALL those children he thought were his were not his.

Two were for another of his family doctor and the other one was for Mr lbe. And that was the reason of a fight between Mrs lbe and Mrs Izobo.

Mrs Ibe found out that her husband was having an affair with Mrs izobo.

Mrs lzobo died in a fatal accident on her way to Abuja".

- Aigg Giwa- Amu