I Defend The Man Who Threw Me Away

Court. Lagos High Court. 9am.

The biggest court case in Lagos this year.

On one side: Commissioner Adeyemi and the , accusing Chidi Eze of stealing N500 million.

On the other side: Me. Barrister Amara Okafor. CEO of Okafor & Adeyemi Law Firm. Defending the man who threw me away.

Chidi was sitting in the dock, wearing a white shirt, no tie, hands shaking. He had not slept for 3 days.

Behind me, in the gallery, were my three sisters — Sophia, Funke, and Mama Eze. Plus Chiamaka and Adaeze, holding hands, wearing matching outfits. Plus Tunde, holding my briefcase.

The judge entered. "Court is in session. Case:

Federal Republic of Nigeria vs Chidi Eze."

The EFCC lawyer stood up. "Your Honour, Chidi Eze stole N500 million from Commissioner Adeyemi. He used it to buy a mansion in Lekki, to buy cars, to pretend to be a billionaire CEO. We have bank statements. We have documents. We ask for 10 years imprisonment."

The whole court went silent. Cameras flashed.

I stood up. My heart was beating like a drum. But my voice was strong.

"Your Honour, my name is Barrister Amara Okafor. I am the lawyer for Chidi Eze. And I am also the woman Chidi Eze threw away."

The judge looked at me. "Barrister Okafor, are you sure you want to defend this man? You are his victim."

I nodded. "Your Honour, I am sure. Because a lawyer does not defend a man because she loves him. A lawyer defends a man because the law says everyone deserves a fair trial. Even a man who threw away three women."

I turned to the EFCC lawyer. "My Lord, the EFCC says Chidi Eze stole N500 million. But I have proof that Chidi Eze did NOT steal N500 million. His former partner, Barrister Femi, stole it."

I brought out the file. The file Sophia gave me. Bank statements. Messages. Photos.

"Your Honour, look at these documents. Femi forged Chidi's signature. Femi transferred the money to his own account. Femi kidnapped Mama Eze to force Chidi to take the blame. Femi is now in police custody. He has confessed."

The court gasped. The EFCC lawyer's mouth opened.

"And there is more, Your Honour. Chidi Eze is not a billionaire. He is a broken man. He gave N50,000 to three women to abort their babies. He called one of them a maid. He threw away his own son. And today, he is here, not as a CEO, but as a father who wants to become a man again."

I called my first witness. Sophia Adeyemi.

Sophia stood up, wearing a gold dress. "Your Honour, my name is Sophia Adeyemi. Chidi Eze promised to marry me. He gave me N50,000 to abort. He used my father's money. But I forgive him. Because if Amara can forgive him, I can forgive him too."

I called my second witness. Funke Adeleke.

Funke stood up, holding Adaeze's hand. "Your Honour, my name is Funke Adeleke. Chidi Eze promised to marry me in secondary school. He gave me N50,000 to abort Adaeze. I kept Adaeze. Adaeze is 7 years old. She has never had a father. I want her father to live, not to go to prison."

I called my third witness. Mama Eze.

Mama Eze stood up, 70 years old, crying. "Your Honour, my name is Mama Eze. Chidi is my son. He is a bad son. He threw away three good women. But he is still my son. For 5 years, I have been sending money to Amara and Chiamaka in secret, because my son refused to do it. Please, don't send my son to prison. Send him to the village. Send him to farm. Send him to learn."

The judge looked at Chidi. "Chidi Eze, do you have anything to say?"

Chidi stood up. Tears falling. He looked at me. He looked at Sophia. He looked at Funke. He looked at his two children.

"Your Honour, I am guilty. Not of stealing N500 million. Femi stole that. But I am guilty of throwing away three women. I am guilty of telling Amara to abort Chiamaka. I am guilty of telling Sophia to abort. I am guilty of telling Funke to abort Adaeze. I am guilty of being a coward. I accept any punishment. But please, let me be a father to my children. Let me fry akara for 1 year. Let me learn what Amara suffered."

The judge banged his gavel.

"Chidi Eze, this court finds you NOT GUILTY of stealing N500 million. Femi will face trial for that. But this court finds you GUILTY of abandoning your family. Your punishment is: 1 year in Enugu village, farming, frying akara, and taking care of your three children, under the supervision of Barrister Amara Okafor."

The whole court clapped. Chiamaka ran to Chidi and hugged him. Adaeze ran to Chidi and hugged him.

Chidi hugged both his children and cried. "My son. My daughter. Daddy is sorry. Daddy will be a father now."

And as we walked out of the court, Tunde held my hand and whispered, "Amara, you just did the most powerful thing a woman can do. You forgave the man who threw you away, and you made him a man again."

I smiled. "Tunde, I did not forgive him for him. I forgave him for Chiamaka. For Adaeze. For all the women who were thrown away."

But just as we stepped out of the court, a black car stopped. A man came down, holding a camera.

"Amara Okafor! I am a journalist from Lagos Times! Is it true you are marrying Tunde Bakare next month? And is it true Chidi Eze is going to be your driver at the wedding?"