People often think courage is loud, that you have to puff your chest and and speak with the voice of a lion people think its more the appearance and how you present yourself , that will make you seem courageous. Where im from they judge courageous people from their physique, and not the vim and passion they carry themselves. They imagine it wearing a military uniform and charging into danger without hesitation. They picture heroes making grand speeches before risking their lives, which in these modern times, they make their speeches and sit on their chairs of authority dishing out commands, but sometimes courage is much more subtle, sometimes it could just be sitting still while another man promises to kill you.
Justice Ibrahim Suleiman understood that better than anyone. For over twenty years, he had presided over one of the busiest High Courts in the country. The Lagos High Court, every morning he wore the same black robe, adjusted the same white wig, that had turned brown form years of being worn out and walked through the same wooden doors into High Court One, he always sighed and said a silent prayer before walking through the doors and after he got in he would look at his Chair, the chair of authority, over 2 decades he had sat on that chair, many have proposed he changed it but he never considered it.
He had sentenced armed robbers and killers, acquitted innocent men, settled bitter family disputes, and listened patiently to stories that would haunt most people for years, from that chair. At this point he had seen it all and he considered himself immune to it all. People looked at him in awe and saw someone courageous and fearless, not knowing he was afraid, even more than anyone realized. Afraid of making the wrong decision, afraid of condemning an innocent man. Yet every morning, he buried those fears beneath his wig and gown because justice demanded nothing less.
Then came the trial of Ibrahim (The viper) Danjuma. His name alone was enough to empty streets. For over a decade, he had built one of the most feared criminal syndicates in West Africa. His men trafficked weapons across borders, burst oil pipelines and siphoned state crude oil, kidnapped wealthy businessmen, assassinated politicians that did not bend to his will, and burned entire villages that refused to cooperate with them. Witnesses disappeared before trial, Police officers investigating his operations were found dead. Prosecutors withdrew from cases after receiving anonymous threats. A true terror he was.
This mountain of a man stood in the dock, dressed in an expensive white kaftan, smiling as though he were attending a wedding rather than standing trial for dozens of crimes. The prosecution had finally gathered enough evidence to charge him with terrorism, multiple murders, kidnapping, and conspiracy. It was the biggest criminal trial the nation had seen in decades. Courtroom One was packed beyond capacity. On the third day of proceedings, after several witnesses had testified, the judge announced that the matter would have to be adjourned because one of the prosecution's key witnesses had suffered a medical emergency. The defence lawyers nodded and the prosecution also agreed.
Justice Suleiman calmly opened his diary. "This matter is hereby adjourned until the eighteenth of next month."
Silence, then suddenly out of nowhere came laughter, it was almost like a mocking laugher, The Viper rose from the dock and looked directly at the judge.
"You think you are delaying my life because you sit higher than everyone else?"
Everyone was silent in bewilderment and shock.
"You believe that chair protects you?"
"You have no idea who I am."
"I have buried commissioners ", "I have buried soldiers ", "I have buried politicians"
The DSS officers stepped closer.
"I know where your children go to school ", "I know where your wife shops ", "I know the road you take home every evening." Whilst saying all this, his eyes never left the judge.
"If this trial continues, your family will learn what grief truly feels like."
One of the defence lawyers attempted to calm him, but he shoved the man aside.
"I don't lose", "I remove obstacles, "and right now, Your Lordship" he said, pointing directly at the Bench, "you are the biggest obstacle in my life."
Justice Suleiman felt his heartbeat quicken, the chair he always sat on felt warmer all of a second and for a second, images flashed through his mind, thoughts of his family, no way any man wouldn’t have been shook, but it stayed only a moment. The judge looked at the accused with calm eyes. "The court has heard enough," he said quietly. "The accused is remanded. Proceedings are adjourned." His voice calm as ever, the Viper laughed again. "You've just signed your own death warrant." The courtroom erupted as security officers dragged him away. Most people assumed the threats were nothing more than the desperate words of a dangerous man facing justice.
They were wrong, three weeks later, shortly before sunrise, Justice Suleiman's convoy left his residence for the courthouse, a delivery truck suddenly swerved across the road, blocking the convoy's path. Within seconds, gunfire erupted and masked men appeared from abandoned buildings, firing automatic rifles. Unknown to the attackers, the intelligence service had intercepted communications suggesting an assassination attempt was imminent. Extra tactical units had been deployed without the judge's knowledge.
The ambushers had walked straight into a trap, the exchange of gunfire lasted less than four minutes. Three attackers were arrested while several others fled. The attempted assassination had shocked the entire nation. The attackers had confessed as to who had sent them. This time, however, there were no smiles and definitely no threats. The once feared crime lord stood in chains. Justice Suleiman looked exactly as he had on the first day of trial calm, composed, and articulate. He read the judgment slowly, carefully addressing every piece of evidence before pronouncing the verdict. The sentence echoed through the courtroom. For the first time in years, The Viper lowered his head, seemingly reality had dawned on him. As officers led him away, he glanced back one final time. The judge remained seated, this time around the chair was cool, almost comforting.
Only then did the criminal understand something he had never learned during his reign of terror. Power was never in the gun. Real power belonged to those who refused to surrender their principles, even when death stood at the door, against all odds, a man whos principles can never be bent, stands tall and courageous against anything life throws at him and is always at peace with himself.
Image is A.I generated
