It Was a set up episode 10
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IT WAS A SET UP (EPISODE 10)
“My name is Linda Clement Olukayode. The daughter of the former governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency, Senator (Dr ) Clement Abisoye Olukayode, who by the special grace of God is the current Minister of Education. My mother is Honourable (Dr) Ebibani Ovie Perekeme, popularly known as “Madam Ebani”, who represented the good people of Port Harcourt II Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. I am a 100 level Civil Engineering student. I am wrongly accused, along with my friend…”
“Hold it my dear. You will have enough time to defend yourself. Are you certain about this?” asked the Vice Chancellor.
“Yes, Prof.” Linda responded.
“Address me as Professor, not Prof.”
“I am sorry, Professor”
“Better.”
At that point the entire house trembled.
Goose bumps were all over me.
People were shaking.
Everyone knew the Minister. I used to see him on television.
He was a no nonsense man.
Throughout the country, he was very powerful and influential.
Madam Ebani was a resounding name throughout the wh0le of Rivers State.
I used to hear little children saying amongst themselves that they would love to be like Madam Ebani when they grow up.
Dr Mike became very uncomfortable. It was all over his face.
I was not the only one who wondered why such a girl should be studying in a public university in Nigeria.
“Indeed, this is a truism”, the Vice Chancellor continued. “The Minister called me a fortnight ago ordering the cancellation of the disciplinary committee that was set up to look after this case. He instructed that I should personally preside over this matter. I was bewildered at such interest the Honourable Minister indicated in this case. But now it is glaring.”
He paused to clear his throat and then continued.
“I know some of us here are uneducated on the reason of our congregating here on such a short notice. For a truth, it was the Honourable Minister who fixed this meeting today. Nevertheless, I thank you all for honoring my invitation. However, I will brief the Senate on why we are here when we return from a short break. The break will last for fifteen minutes.”
As to why the Vice Chancellor ordered for a break when we just started about 10 minutes ago was unknown to me at first.
But when we went outside, Barrister Adewale briefed us.
“The Senate is shocked to know your true identity. Dr Mike was visibly shaken. He has not seen anything yet. By the time we are done with him, he will learn his lesson the hærd way”, said Barrister Adewale just before he took a sip of his water.
“I hope you have all those doc-ments intact!”, he said to Linda.
“Everything is intact”, Linda responded.
“Good. You will take your time while presenting them one after the other. Don’t mix them up. Do your part, then we will take it up from there. I trust you on this.”
“And you Ezekiel”, the Barrister continued, “You will be backing your friend up. You don’t have much to say. You will tell us exactly what happened on the said day you both went to submit your assignment in his office. I hope you can handle it!”
“Yes I can”, I answered.
From my voice, it was clear that I was afraid.
“Don’t be afraid of those people. They won’t do you anything. You have the protection from the law”, the Barrister assured.
I nodded.
Fifteen minutes were almost gone, so we returned to our seats.
After everyone must have seated, the Vice Chancellor continued: “You are welcome back. I earlier told us that I will brief us on the reason we all are gathered here. We have a case before us today. The case is between Dr Mike here, our staff, and Ezekiel Umoren and Linda Olukayode, our students. Surprisingly unusual, the Federal Ministry of Education is very much interested in this case. Like I said earlier, the Honourable Minister called to register his interest in this matter. And as you all know, this citadel if learning has zero tolerance for theft. Dr Mike reported something to the students’ disciplinary committee, before the matter was later referred to the Senate. So I will like Dr Mike to have the floor.”
After glancing through the house, Dr Mike cleared his throat and began: “I remain Dr Stephen Sunday Micheal, popularly called Dr Mike. I studied Pharmaceutical Sciences at PhD level from the prestigious University of Ibadan. I have another PhD in Civil Engineering from State University, Cairo in Egypt. Currently I am running another PhD in Meta Physics from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom.”
He paused to have a sip of his water as everyone had table water before them.
After taking a sip, he continued: “We all know that this institution has zero tolerance for theft, examination malpractice and cultism. Those offenses attract expulsion. As the Chairman of the disciplinary committee, I reported a case to the committee for action. After my usual lecture on the said morning, I told them to submit the assignment I gave on my table. I did not want them to submit through the course representative. My phone was on my table. Everyone saw it. I was shocked to find out that my phone was no longer on the table as soon as these two left the office. I have two witnesses. My witnesses saw the phone on the table, but as soon as these two left, it disappeared. I borrowed a phone from one of them to dial my number, but it was already switched off. I sent for them immediately, but they denied ever seeing the phone. I sent for the CSO here, he came and joined the search. The CSO promised to find the phone, but it is disheartening to tell the house that up till this moment, the phone is yet to be seen. The most painful part is that all my doc-ments were saved in the phone. My banking details, passwords to my emails, my academic details, my certificates, etc, all were stored in the phone. My phone had no password, so my sensitive details are not saved. I am done for now.”
He took another sip from his bottle.
“Young girl, what do you have to say?”, asked the Vice Chancellor.
Linda rose up and began: “With due respect Professor, I will like to be addressed as ‘Linda Olukayode’, and not ‘Young girl’. Thank you all.”
With that, the house murmured.
“Very well then, Linda Olukayode. The house has taken note of that, you may continue please”, said the Vice Chancellor.
The house became silent again.
“Thank you Professor. With due respect to the Vice Chancellor and all other members of the Senate, Dr Mike here is not fit to be among where humans are.”
“Young girl, Sorry, Linda Olukayode, I will advise you watch your tongue. You are before the Senate. Whatever you have to say, you must apply decorum to it. Barrister Adewale, please advise your client. She is still a student here.”
Barrister Adewale whispered to Linda and she nodded.
“I am sorry if my choice of words is offensive to the Senate. I will look for a better way to address Dr Mike.”
© Ezekiel Umoren