Dream Another Day : Chief Justice Nne Wilcox

Chief Justice Nne Wilcox

Nne looks at her watch, it was 4:00 a.m. The stray lights at the portico, the house opposite hers, bouncing off the pillars, stream through the glass windows into the room. She watches this for a while. Then shakes her head, shuts the blinds and the windows as well, and walks back to where her husband.

“She is my friend, Honey. Please acquit her,” she pleads, holding him. 
He smiles, and drops his writing pen.
Darling, it won’t work. Even the blind finds her guilty. All the evidences point at her. She authorized the funds and spent the funds without appropriations. Darling, she is going in for it.”
She moved away from him.
“She is an orphan. We watched her grow. She’s our adopted.”
“This excuse is rubbish. Won’t stand before any law.”

“She came a long way, Darling.”

"Success is never a tool for stealing. She couldn’t manage her goldmines.”

“She was pushed into it,” she says. Then sits on his laps, smiling, looking into his eyes. “Could she plead insanity, Ben. Please do me this favour.”

“Miscarriage of justice, Nne. Count me out.”

“Then adjourn and adjourn and adjourn, five years, maybe.”

“I’m not in the position to do that. Her solicitor should have ask for it, but he did not.”

Nne turns the pages of his book.

"What! One hundred and two years,” she screams.

"Yes, my dear. She stole $102B. Every billion counts a year.”

“Ben, this is ridiculous. We got our part. We shared the money equally. We used her.”

Benjamin laughs loud.

“I did not use her. She is an insider. Presidential aide. Mine sweeper.”

“Don’t deny the $8 million Cadillac.  You claim your brother gave you. She supplied it from that fund.”

“How on earth would I tell apart a gift from graft,” he chuckles, drowning in his laughter.

“Ben! Ben! Ben!”

He turns, and rolls over the wide bed. And wipes his eyes. His wife is standing at the edge of bed, shoving and calling him. He looks up at the side clock, it was 8.00 a m.

He rubs his eyes, and sits up.
Thanks, it's all but a dream, he thought.

“David will drop me in Justice Library. Then take the children to school.”

He stands up, stretches and yawns.

“That’s okay, Nne. Make sure the security men escorts him.” 

She nods. Then he holds her. 

“Please put off this red thing. Don’t disappoint us. We are counting on you.”

“Ben, my clothes are not things. Moreover, there is nothing I can do. The case is beyond me. I will not prick my conscience.”

"Nne, please do this lifetime favour for the family. My President is begging you. My party chairman is begging you. My ministerial post is on the line. They are waiting for your positive action. Give him ten years behind bars."

“This man is innocent, Ben. I can’t play the devil’s advocate. Can’t deny the truth in my hearts? I can’t create a gaping sore in my conscience.”

“ He is notorious. We cannot accommodate his exuberance anymore.”

“What he is asking for is the release of youths unlawfully detained.”

“No, Nne. He is heating up the polity. He supplied arms to the youths. He wants to bring down the government.”

“The Attorney General could not prove this case beyond reasonable doubt. It lacks merit. And does not even have a jot of truth. I will throw it out, Ben.”

“Then what would I do to my career? You can’t think like this Nne!”

“The arms you refer to were planted. A witness saw three men concealing them in Donald’s residence. He identified the men. The prosecuting Attorney could not fault it. All the fingers are pointing at him. What should I do as a sitting judge. Rewrite their prayers to favour your people. Miscarry justice? I won’t do that. We were in Queens College, London together. We were not taught to behave abnormal, Ben.”

She disentangles from his clasp. Benjamin goes forward, grabs her.

“This is a different affair, Nne. You should dismiss yourself from the case. Don’t bring calamity to our family. Don’t push me into a political wilderness. We have the chance to serve our nation at the top as many years as possible. And our children future is as good as settled in heaven. We shouldn’t throw away this green card to great prosperity because of your rigid right. Please rescind your decision.” 

“Ben, we are not God. We don’t know what tomorrow brings. Doing what is right for us is the best way forward. Our children should be educated in public schools with other children so that they would work together, grow together as a generation.  We can’t live out our time. And at the same time take away the lives before our children. Allow their generation be. It is inhuman, degrading. Please Ben I can’t fall to your plea.”

“Nne, this beyond you now. I’m trying to let you know that My 

party does not need anyone’s opinion on this matter. We have taken our decision already. Please be careful what you do or say.”

“I will be Ben.”

She kisses his cheek. And leaves the room. 

He hears the shutting of doors, and her car whooshing out of gate. He picks up a phone.

She comes to a go-slow at a police checkpoint on the Third Avenue. The driver winds down his side window. 

“Hey, where are heading,” asks a huge man in police uniform with AK47, hanging over his shoulders.

“ Justice Library”

“No way. The library is closed. The courts are shut down. Please turn around.”

Chief Justice Nne Wilcox put her head out.

“What’s going on, Officer?”

“Bomb scare, Madam. We are checking out the alarm.”

“It’s okay. David go back home.”

The driver changes his route. She calls Justice Department. Then the chairman of the Bench.

“ Yes, My Lordship. Indefinite rescheduling.”

“The man, what happens to him, My Lordship.”

“He should remain in police custody.”

“Your Lordship, he has been there for a year. It’s undue detention.”

“The law will take its course My Lordship. I will straighten it, and call you in the evening.”

"Thank you, My Lordship.”

She keeps back the phone as the car drove into her residence. 

Then runs out of the car, rushes up the stairs, two at a double, and dashes into Benjamin’s Library. 

He swivels round.

“Hello, My Lordship. Back too early.”

“Ben, it is not funny,” she says, raging, her face discolored.

“What!”

“You called your men to stop me. Why, Ben?”

“What are saying?”

She grabs his phone. And flips through hurriedly. Nothing shows up.

Benjamin stands, smiling, watching her. 

“I don’t trust you Ben. I’m not sure my head will ever be safe on your shoulders.

Benjamin laughs for a long time.

“Nne, if I would wed you again, and again, I would. You are the best girl in town.  Do I take you out this evening? I’ve fallen in love with you again,” he says, shuffling toward her. “Buy you beef steaks, grape wine and a wonderful dinner. Please don’t say no.”
Her face breaks into smiles.
“On one condition, Ben.”
“Yes My Lordship”
“No more road blocks. No more AK47 dangling at me.”
“I promise, Nne. I Promise. No more guns, no roadblocks.”
She pokes him, and throws her bag at him. He ducks. Then she holds him, her head on his shoulder.
“Nothing goes unpunished. You sent your advocates against your wife. And God delivered her. I will rake over the coals after the dinner.”
“What!”
“You heard me, Ben,” she says, giggling.
They stare at each other for a long time, pulling faces. Then they start off, hugging, laughing.