Theresa felt the homey and welcoming ambience in Joshua and Daniella’s home. Everything just fits together. The couch and the armchairs, the center rug and table, the wall frames both artworks and pictures, the tv and the curtains, everything altogether makes you want to sit there and take a nice and long rest.
Since her first night in their house, Daniella has been so wonderful to her. She gave her clothes that were not a perfect fit but were comfortable to wear as Theresa was slimmer than Daniella even before her pregnancy.
She was lodged in their guest room and it was quite comfortable. For the past few days, Daniella has been spoiling her with nice home-made food such that Theresa was beginning to fear for weight-gain.
More importantly, they have been praying with her. Joshua handed her a fairly used copy of the Bible her first night there when she requested for one. It is very obvious that they are a couple who loved the Lord.
However, something feels strange. There seems to be some kind of tension between them. Theresa has tried to place it but she could not. They were conversing fine but something feels off, somehow. Theresa has been praying for them since she started to stay with them but somehow, something feels strained.
Daniella had just returned from work and they were to head out to her boss’s place, Mama T and to see if charges had been pressed against her. As Daniella sat at the driver’s seat, Theresa could not help fearing for the baby. She wished she did not have to drive.
As if sensing her worry, Daniella laughed. ‘Don’t worry, we will meet Joshua at the estate’s junction. He will drive us there. We also need his manly cover. Calm down, Madam’. The two ladies gave a hearty laugh.
True to her words, Joshua was already waiting. He also took the rest of the day off from work to follow them to Mama T’s place and then to her own lodge if need be. Joshua and Daniella alighted from the vehicle in front of Mama T’s.
As soon as Daniella introduced herself as Theresa’s legal representative, Mama T’s blood seemed to start boiling with anger demanding that Theresa appear since she was a thief. She started calling her all sorts of names and that after this case is over that she would sue her for all the things that were missing in her salon.
Very calmly, Daniella requested for Bimbo and she was told that she was in detention because Theresa ran off and she was not ready to go bail her since she harboured a thief.
Collecting the details of the police station and the complainant’s they headed to the station to voluntarily surrender as well as begin the process of due law enforcement.
At the police station, Theresa turned herself in with her legal representation present and she was amazed with seeing Daniella in her element. The police wanted to put her in detention while conducting further investigations.
Daniella would not hear of it considering that there was no search warrant when Theresa’s belonging and home was searched. She stepped in with a composed attitude that seemed like a carefully practiced response for this specific situation, ‘Officer, thank you for the work you do to maintain law and order.
My client understands the accusation and stands ready to work with the investigators. An arrest done without sufficient evidence or reasonable grounds constitutes a violation of her fundamental rights according to Nigerian law as established in the 1999 Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
All available evidence shows that the discovered jewelry does not provide any direct connection between the accused and the alleged theft incident. We believe she has been set up as the evidence currently points against this conclusion.
My client remains in a stable residence while she voluntarily makes statements to authorities because she does not plan to flee. The present circumstances demand no incarceration for her custody since she maintains full cooperation with legal counsel.
The law checks allow me to request that her freedom continues during investigative procedures. We will take legal action by requesting anticipatory bail and maintain all possible legal means to defend any unjustified arrest.
I have faith in the legal process to continue following the law as well as protecting all rights of my client’.
The police investigator knew that Daniella was ready to drag him with the law on the case and considering that she was pregnant, he grudgingly relented on his decision to place Theresa under arrest.
All the while that the back and forth was ongoing between the police officer in charge of her case and Daniella, Theresa was praying to the Lord with the lyrics of the hymn: ‘Tis so sweet to Trust in Jesus and to take Him at His Word.
After Theresa was done giving her statement, she spoke calmly to Daniella and asked if she could help bail Bimbo out. Daniella gave her an uncertain look and seemed to want to explain the import of her doing that to her, Theresa gave her a calm smile and said ‘I know that we have a conflict of interest considering you are my lawyer.
I don’t understand much about the law but I am guessing you can bail her out without representing her, right? She has been here for a number of days, please…’
Taking a deep breath, Daniella requested to see Bimbo. While waiting, she asked Theresa to go wait with Joshua at the waiting area. A police officer went to bring Bimbo from her cell and seeing Daniella, upon her arrival, she was absolutely clueless about the pregnant woman before her.
As Bimbo took her seat, Daniella introduced herself emphatically as Theresa’s lawyer. When she heard that, Daniella felt like she saw shame in Bimbo’s eyes. She dismissed it, thinking she was imagining it.
Daniella continued, ‘Bimbo, I am here to organize your bail but I am not taking on the role of providing you complete legal representation in your current matter. Theresa specifically requested this.
You need to hire your own attorney once the court process starts since a formal charge is likely. I will assist with your bail procedures to prevent extended detention because of this matter. Is this fine by you?’
Before Daniella could say something else, Bimbo began to cry profusely and spoke with serious agitation. ‘I am sorry. Please where is Theresa? I would like to apologise to her. I did it. I planted it in her bag. I don’t know what came over me.
These past days in police custody have left me wondering about karma. I have wondered how what I thought was smartly and carefully planned back-fired on me. I feel so ashamed that I could do such a thing, especially to my sister, Theresa.
I did it but please can you save me. I don’t even know any lawyer. I am not sure I can afford one at all but please have mercy on me. This place is a living hell. Please ma, please.’.
Daniella was short on words. Finally, she handed Bimbo a tissue to clean her face. Then she asked if she was ready to write another statement. Bimbo nodded affirmatively. She stood up and called for Theresa from the entrance of the room they were in.
Theresa came in and Bimbo scampered off her chair towards her with hand-cuffs in her hands, begging, ‘Aburo, jor ma binu. Emi ni mo se. Jo, darijimi. Mo be be ni. Your God is indeed fighting for you. It all back-fired on me. I don’t know what came over me. Please help me beg this aunty to help me out. Please!’ (Little sis, Please don’t be offended. I did it. Please, forgive me. I beg you sincerely).
Theresa was crying profusely. She had already settled in her mind that she had forgiven Bimbo but seeing Bimbo being upfront about her deeds and begging made her feel hurt all over again and she also cried hard. Knowing that it is a must that she forgives her, otherwise her Father will also not forgive her, Theresa forgave Bimbo all over again.
‘I forgive you, Bimbo. I do!’. They both hugged, cried and finally calmed down. Then, Daniella gave the both of them a brief on what will happen next. She invited the case’s investigator again and asked that Bimbo’s statement be taken again.
After debriefing him on recent updates, Daniella made sure that due process was taken to clear Theresa’s name, demanding that she is cleared and discharged.
Once that was settled, Daniella requested an audience with the IPO who was on seat at that moment an was in on the case, she pleaded based on their discretion and prosecutorial judgement that Bimbo be not charged to court that they were seeking an out-of-court settlement with the complainant.
It was through the IPO that they found out that the complainant had already withdrawn from the case and that the police were only treating it as a criminal offence.
Bimbo was issued a formal warning and was released without criminal charges seeing her genuine remorsefulness.
As the trio left the IPO’s office and finally settled all other obligations with the police, right at the entrance of the station, Bimbo knelt, thanking Daniella profusely. Daniella, quite embarrassed with all the display, promptly put a stop to it as best as she could. Theresa can’t remember if she had been so awed by how God can step into a matter for someone!
Daniella pulled Theresa to the side and asked if she would like to go back to their place or simply go stay in her place. Theresa chose the former but requested that she wants to pick up some personal effects from her place.
Joshua was amazed and so glad that Theresa was freed and he felt some kind of relief when Daniella told him that she opted to go back to their place with them. He did not know why but deep down, he was glad for whatever reason.
**ChatGPT was consulted for legal guidance to write this episode.
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Wheeeeew!
Have you ever experienced what the Bible meant by when the Lord turned captivity around, it felt like a dream? You can share your thoughts in the comments section. It is just a click away.
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Checkmate Episode 18
