While I was still a little girl, my daddy used to be absent occasionally. It was usually for a few hours. A man would always come to the house and they'll leave together very early in the morning and return in the evening. I didn't understand what was going on till I was much older. My dad came back one day and called my mum excitedly.
"Ufan! Ufan!!" As he fondly called my mum, the judge gave a ruling, ``Magdalene has been acquitted and discharged."
My mum went on her knees and bowed her head. I remember all she said. She said: "To the God who's the creator of Heaven and Earth, I say let your name be glorified". After this, she danced around happily and I danced with her.
My dad was put in charge of a group of believers in his village. It wasn't a church yet but just a group which consisted of a few men and women. All they did was fellowship together. One day, policemen walked in and arrested a young girl for stealing Naira 100,000. This happened like 15 years ago so back then, 100k was worth a lot. My dad, who was the group leader, had to follow up on the case.
The person who got the young girl arrested was also a member of the religious group. She had a store and she employed the young girl as a sales girl. The Lady just got married and according to the young girl's written statement, the lady had been collecting funds from her without taking notes and when the sales girl told her the money had finished, she became frantic and accused the girl of stealing her money.
For me, the worst thing that can happen to anyone is a court case in Nigeria. A little issue will take years to conclude. The issue got processed in court. Day after day, the court kept asking for evidence, receipts, and record books. An accountant was given to the girl (which is the man that my dad used to go out with). Both parties sat to monitor the girl while she tendered her account.
The case was ruled out before and the girl's release was granted because the lady had no tangible evidence. Sadly, she was bent on frustrating the girl so she reported the case to a different court. The second judge, according to my dad, was bribed so he frustrated the little girl and dragged the case. The judge later died and after he died the case was transferred to the supreme court which is the highest court in Nigeria. There the account was completed but the girl couldn't account for 20,000 so she paid for it. The judge contributed and other people in the courtroom contributed and that's how she was able to pay the N20,000.
In all I was proud of my dad. My dad doesn't play with leadership. Whatever role is given to him, he's always faithful and diligent in his service. He wasn't supposed to pursue that case because he was just a group leader. He reported the issue to the church's council as he is supposed to do but when they didn't step in, he had to fight for a little girl. The young girl wasn't related to us in any way and all she had was a poor mother.
My dad was arrested in some cases. All efforts by the accuser to get him to back off were fruitless. He fought until the end. The young girl now is married with kids. When I asked my dad why he did what he did he said he believes in fighting for the truth even if he's fighting alone. He also said it was his duty to oversee the wellbeing of the group, he had no choice. Lastly he said if we're a model of Christ we should live by example. Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick and raised the dead. He said this was his own way of building and keeping the church like the master.
Whatever you do, please stay out of trouble. You don't want to end up in court. Happy weekend y'all 馃
I am a witty, adventurous and nicheless writer who loves to sing, take pictures, teach and travel. I am currently an English Education student at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. I am also a young children's teacher who homeschools kids during holidays. I love to share my life experiences through writing with the hope of inspiring as many people as possible on the Hive space.
