I LOVE YOU – episode 17

Court proceedings started the following Monday. I saw bode amongst the audience around. Hadizat’s dad was  present, but not as the presiding judge. The clerk stood up ,after I was called into the suspect chamber, and asked

Clerk: you Abiola Kelvin, are accused of raping Ms. Hadizat Adegbolahan. Are you guilty or not guilty?
Me: not guilty
Clerk: my lord he says he is not guilty.

Arguments ensued between the two lawyers – prosecuting lawyer and my lawyer – my dad( I didn’t tell you he was a lawyer?).

Dad called out bode to witness about my relationship with hadizat. “thay are dating” he said, but the prosecuting lawyer had countered the motion by saying “ they might be dating, but Kelvin had forcefully had his way with her and that is tantamount to rape. The girl in question is a young 17 year old girl, as a girl well trained at home, she would not want that kind of intimacy at that ‘ innocent’ age”.

I stood there, surprised, amazed. Just like I had felt when she first told me “I love you”, but this time, it was  tears that flooded my eyes. Hadizat?!!! When she was the one that caused it that night. How foolish I had been?!!!.

The case was later adjourned. My dad was able to secure bail for me, but my international passport was seized.

Home was terrible. Mum was always nagging. Dad was giving me the ‘silent mode’ punishment.

Mum: Kelvin, how could you do this to us?! Despite how we are struggling to give you a better life. Now see what you have turned your life, our family into? Shame on you!!!!

She cried the more, there and then, the name “gamalin 20” came to mind.

My inner man broke down on his knees, crying, even though I was still standing.

I couldn’t look into the face of my beloved temi anymore. I had changed from the Kelvin she used to know. Every day at home,  the whole world seem to be booing me.

One day, my dad called me after we had put off the generator, he sat me down
Dad: Kelvin, explain to this house what you have done?

I just couldn’t say anything, he pounced on me and gave me a hell of a beating, and finally pronounced, “no matter the verdict of the court, tomorrow, you are no longer a member of this family, I disown you”

Mum pleaded as she cried, but all to no avail, dad was rigid in his decision. Temi was crying too, staring at my face as she did. Tears flowed down my eyes uncontrollably.

The next day, we left for osogbo early in the morning.

That day hadizat was in the audience.

I felt relieved that she was I court and she would testify that it wasn’t rape. She avoided my every gaze, then I felt really uncomfortable.

Soon, she was called by the prosecuting lawyer to testify.

Lawyer: can  you tell the court your relationship with Kelvin?
Hadizat: my boyfriend
Lawyer: what happened on the night of September 30 2016?
Hadizat: thieves came to our villa, while Kelvin was around, and he had to stay over the night
Lawyer: the sex that later ensued, was it rape or you both were having fun?
Hadizat:  (Sobbing) r….ra….rape
Lawyer: from the victim,  we have ascertained that the deed was a rape. I imploy your lordship to give the right judgment so that this rapist wont go unpunished, serving as a deterrent to all those that have it in mind to take advantage of young girls.

From where I was standing, I shouted “hadizat!!!!!!!”, I couldn’t believe my ears, and am sure you aren’t believing your eyes now.

There and by, I was sentenced to six years in prison, with hard labour.

As I was being taken away, I met hadizat

Hadizat: am sorry (sobbing)
What was she sorry for?