“TOMORROW, my beloved husband is to be killed for an offence he didn’t commit.  I know he’s innocent of the charges brought against him.  God! I know my husband is not guilty. Since I met Inyang many years ago he has revealed his true self to me.  I know him more than his closest friends. How could he have murdered anybody? How could he? He told me in tears that he didn’t do it. And I believe him. God! Don’t let this happen to me; don’t let him die…!”

Amaka was weeping.

She stood up and leaned on the wall. Chinye, her close friend, who had been with her since her troubles began, moved closer and tried to console her: “Stop crying, Amaka,” Chinye said softly, “Pray for him.  Prayers are the only way out now, there’s nothing you can do; you can’t change the court’s verdict. You hear?”

Amaka nodded between sobs.  Thereafter Chinye left her with a promise to be back later.

When Chinye left, Amaka sat down on a wooden chair and started reflecting on the story of Inyang’s life up till the time he was arrested and sentenced to death by hanging. Inyang had been a very gentle, loving and respectful person from his childhood.  He and Amaka had been fond of each other right from their teens.

Inyang charming and urbane.  He was never angry with his wife, Amaka.  He loved her with his soul. There was a perfect chemistry between them.  If they had an occasion or outing they went together; they lived like twins.  Amaka was light in complexion, very beautiful and gap-toothed.  Her level-headedness and understanding nature could make any man or woman not interested in the institution of marriage to have a rethink. She had a jovial nature and many women envied her because of her impeccable, friendly behaviour toward her husband and neighbours.

They had been making secret love contacts way back in their village and had vowed to marry in the future. In fact, it seemed their love increased in intensity as they mature into adulthood.

Luckily for Inyang, he was employed as a supervisor in a Lagos firm. A new lease of life was thus open for them to continue their flaming love.   Inyang’s father died two years before but his mother was alive. The old woman had threatened to kill herself if Inyang was finally executed, but she was now in the safe hands of her family, who were looking after her.

Amaka remembered what Inyang told her on the circumstances that led to his arrest.

It was one cold night while coming from a party organized by one of his friends.  It was around 12midnight, everywhere was quiet.  He had boarded a kabukabu, those late night private cabs, from Surulere to Mushin, where he lived. He stepped down on getting to his destination and the cab drove off immediately.  He had not trekked for long distance when he saw a man lying on the ground in a pool of blood. An open suitcase was beside the man.  Inyang was scared but ventured closer and on careful scrutiny, he noticed that the man was dead. There was a deep wound on his lower abdomen.

The dead man must have writhed in pain before dying.  Scattered beside the man’s suitcase were naira notes and some trinkets.  Inyang stood rooted to the spot.

Then, all of a sudden he spotted a Police car moving in his direction. He knew he must not be seen around that environment lest he be suspected of having killed the man.

He broke into a run.

However, he had hardly taken six steps when he was stopped. Those in the vehicle were detectives.  They accused him of killing the man.  Inyang’s explanations failed to convince them.

He was arraigned before a Lagos court and accused of murdering the deceased, a prominent businessman…

Amaka burst into tears again.  She had privately vowed to commit suicide should Iyang be hanged. The hanging was fixed for the next day.  Amaka had not slept overnight.  She could see the hangman in her mind’s eye.  She could visualise him holding Inyang by the hand and covering his place with a black cloth.  And Iyang was trembling and crying.  She could see the stern, pitiless face of the hangman, and the rope soon to end Inyang’s life, dangling ominously. She could see him being led to the ropes by the hangman.  She saw him crying again and begging that he was innocent.  But no one listened.

She saw the hangman dragging him to the ropes.  Inyang was shivering and begging.  Then in a moment the noose was round his neck.  And a minute later Iyang’s body was dangling. It struggled, then it was still.

“Ah! My God! It’s finished!” Amaka exclaimed.  “So, that’s how an innocent man will die? I’m dying with you Inyang,” she said in a resolute voice.

Amaka stood up, dashed into the kitchen and took a knife. She sent a quick prayer to God to be with her only child who was now with her relatives as she headed back to the sitting room.

She squeezed her eyes shut in readiness for the final act…

Then she heard the knock.  And the door opened. Amaka could not believe her eyes! For the person standing before her was Inyang.  The knife fell as she stood motionless, mouth agape.  In a twinkling of an eye they were in each other’s arms. They kissed, hugged, caressed…

“You are free? Free?!” Amaka managed to mumble at last.

“Yes, my Amaka, I’m free and alive,” Inyang, replied softly, “my case was further investigated and it was discovered that I’m innocent. I was even compensated with N300, 000 for my ordeal in prison.

“The real murderers of the man had been arrested. Amaka, it’s a long story…

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