On trial episode 1

On Trial
Being a lawyer is a two-sided coin, at times you are the Protagonist but a time will definitely come for you to be the Antagonist, there is no way around it.
On TrialOn Trial
Kaira is a lawyer, and all she has always wanted was to fight for assaulted women. She is never going to back down no matter what she faces, she is ready to give it what it demands.
Thirteen years after she started practicing, she’s not going to be intimidated by the fact that the rape crime she fights desperately against is committed mostly by very rich and powerful people.
She was really doing great at her job until her legal mentor Wunmi Adesina (SAN) chose to betray her. How can the SAN even ask her to defend a rapist in the court of law? It is so unbelievable!
There’s something about this new client who is the alleged rapist, he doesn’t in any way look like someone capable of molesting any woman. He is handsome, rich and calm.
Thoughts about him filled her heart and she develops a feeling for him and it puts her in a dilemma.
She has always been a counsel to women that are raped or assaulted, will she now defend a rapist? What will people say? Why did her mentor personally wants her to do it? And most importantly, what is it about this guy that keeps her off-balance everytime he is around her?
Well, she’s Kairaluchukwu Madukaife a competent lawyer, and On Koje’s trial, a lot awaits her….
This rom-nce/Crime is going to keep you glued to your screen until the trial is over ….
‘The Supreme Court convicted Chief,’ Kairaluchukwu Madukaife scre-med in excitement the moment the person on the other end of the line picked her call.
She was just outside the Supreme Court premises in Abuja where a matter she had been prosecuting for six years had finally been concluded. The Attorney General had given her a fiat to prosecute the case which had been a very dicey one. The man involved was a politician and who turned out to be a serial rapist. None of his victims had ever pressed charges, accepting the large pay-offs he made. And so it was ironic that the only victim that had chosen to come against him was a pr-stitute he had forced himself on!
Esther had been invited for a party at another friend’s instance and that was how she had met the politician who had taken an interest in her. He was all over her at the party and although he was good looking and took care of himself for a man his age, Esther hadn’t been comfortable with him. There was something about him that she didn’t trust and so she had tried her best to avoid him. It had been her intention to leave immediately after the party although her friend had chosen to stay back with her client, but it had been raining heavily and that was her undoing.
Chief had found his way into the room that had been assigned to her and when she had refused his advances, he had hit her and forced himself on her, calling her all sorts of names as he assaulted her and telling her that women like her had no right playing innocent and acting like they were too good for the likes of him. When he was done, he quickly dressed up and tossed four N500 bundles at her, walking out of the bedroom, a smug smile on her face, so certain that she would do nothing about what he had just done to her.
Her going rate wasn’t even anywhere near half of what the Chief had paid her but she felt abused. Yes, she had taken several men into her body but it had been her choice. This man had taken the choice away from her, taking her body as though it belonged to him. He had disrespected her! She had intended to return the money to him but he was gone by the time she put herself together and she didn’t trust the domestic servants not to keep the money for themselves and so she utilised the money in engaging the services of a lawyer.
Esther had been rejected. The DPP didn’t think she had a good case because of her history. Kaira had been a final resort and she had taken her case almost on a pro bono level. Just seven years at the bar, a lot of people hadn’t taken Kaira seriously, but she had been instrumental to some of the success stories at the ministry of justice with respect to rape matters and indecent assault.
The media had been like barracudas, making Esther into a laughing stock: ‘ Ashawo sues for rape.’ ‘Popular pr-stitute alleges rape ’ etc.
The odds had been against Esther. She had received threats from the politician and his friends but in the course of the trial, Kaira had gotten a friend, Sule Abdullah, an investigator involved, and he had been able to trace a long line of women the chief had raped. With this additional evidence, Chief’s case was definitely not going well in spite of the intimidating team of Senior Advocates and senior lawyers he had presented for his defence.
For some reason, despite the glaring guilt, the trial court had found Chief not guilty and acquitted and discharged him. Kaira had proceeded to the Court of Appeal and the appeal had been dismissed on technicalities. Following the dismissal of the appeal Esther had given up, telling Kaira that she didn’t think it was necessary to proceed further. She was a laughing stock. Everyone talked about her but Kaira had talked her into allowing her to proceed to the Supreme Court. She had faith in the Justices.
She had worked on her notice of appeal, compiled records and had them transmitted. She had worked on her Appellant’s brief of argument while compiling the records so that there would be no delay. Because of the nature of the offence, the Supreme Court had given an early date for the parties to appear before it. Preliminary applications were taken and then the appeal was set down for hearing. Finally judgment was reserved. Kaira had been in Port Harcourt when she had received a hearing notice that the judgment would be delivered in two days. She had left everything and set out for the Supreme Court asking Esther to meet her there.
The judgment had been a very lengthy one but at the end, the appeal was allowed as the Court found the respondent guilty of the offence of rape and convicted him. Esther had been in a state of shock as Kaira led her out of the courtroom. She hadn’t been expecting the verdict but it was the answer to prayers she had been saying for years.
She had almost given up, choosing to leave the Chief’s punishment to God but Kaira had told her that the man had gotten away with it for so long and would continue to do so unless someone stood against him and that was what Esther had done.
Kaira had constantly communicated with her legal mentor, Wunmi Adesina SAN, and she had helped her with her arguments and presenting a water-proof case against the Accused person. Chief was going away for a very long time! The streets of Lagos would be safe with him away. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
‘Aunty, thank you,’ Esther said, almost prostrating. ‘The thing wey you do for me, God go bless you well.’
The smile on the young woman’s face was enough payment for Kaira.
‘I’m so proud of you, my girl,’ Wunmi told Kaira. ‘So will you make a quick stop in Lagos before going back to Port Harcourt? I want to host you.’
‘I’ll be there tomorrow. I’ll just change my flight.’
‘Can’t wait to see you again. I’m so proud of you.’
‘ E se gan, Ma.’
Kaira treated Esther to lunch. The rape had made Esther have a rethink and she had given up pr-stitution for good. She was presently working as a sales girl and taking permission to leave work to attend the court sittings. Getting a job had been difficult because of the media buzz but she had finally secured one which gave her a decent pay while she considered Kaira’s advice to go back to school and complete her education.
To be continued
By
Onyinyechukwu Mbeledogu