I had a long conversation with her today, the wife, and felt her pain.
She spoke with a heavy heart but with a firm resolve to protect her dignity and her children
I feel for her as she speaks with stoic determination.
Edgar, I respect you and would not let this come between us, but you are an influencer and, as such, must be careful of what you write.
I speak to him much more regularly. He just wrote a book, and I wrote the foreword.
The Book is on social media trial, and it’s damaging effect on reputation and possibly the quest for justice
Am I in a tight corner? NO.
I perfectly understand where she is coming from.
The hurt, the pain, the betrayal, the loss of marital bliss, its effect on the children and the family legacy.
She swears to me that no matter what the courts says, he no longer exists to her, and rightly so
But on the other end is the legality of it all.
We followed the highly publicised trial. He was convicted by a lower court and was acquitted by the Appeal court.
We have seen reports that suggest that the case may be heading towards the Supreme Court
I have seen the over 50-page Appeal court ruling and read the brilliant summary
The doctor is confident of his Victory, but she no longer gives a hoot and insists that her God will provide a more lasting judgment on the matter
The main issue is now the audience.
Nigerians are markedly divided. A few stand with the court ruling, but many more, especially the females, stand on the grounds of morality
The technical details are precise. He has been acquitted on Appeal, and as far as the law is concerned, he is not guilty; and here, many people stand.
However, a vast majority are quick to say ‘no.’ We know what Nigeria is. He was acquitted on a technicality; he did it.
They push towards his lifestyle, stories, and all sorts of things and say he is an evil man
The question now is, do we now disparage what the courts have said and lynch the man cos he has failed his family and society morally if at all?
If the answer is yes, then I am petrified, cos we may be heading back to the lynch mob of the 80s
The courts are there for a purpose – to provide a veritable platform for justice.
They are also a platform for fair play and due process, which in essence would safeguard the rule of law and allow for the protection of individual rights
The arguments I have heard in the last three days have been scary, as they show a considerable lack of confidence by the vast majority in the justice system
Oh, we don’t care if he has been acquitted; he did it. He is a fiend, ohh he raped someone in Ife, he did this and he did that, you should be careful how you support him cos you have daughters and God will punish him and those who support him.
The massive lack of confidence in the Judiciary is terrifying, as it portends a possible and inevitable collapse of the system and a God forbid relapse into chaos.
This case is very central to the issue of confidence in the system. The fact that despite his acquittal, a vast majority still feel that justice has not been served is fearsome, I tell you.
This case is not in isolation, especially if you throw in our reactions to the varied judgments on electoral matters
This then portends the need for judicial reforms and, very quickly, to shore up public confidence so that, once judgment is passed, all sides will feel satisfied.
Back to my friends, Dr, no matter what comes out at the Supreme Court, please go and beg your beautiful wife.
Seek her penance, seek her forgiveness and try to restore the dignity of your family
And for my sister, please open your heart to love, continue to protect your children, salvage what you can of your family’s dignity, and seek God’s face.
As for the rest of us, let’s work towards reforming our Judiciary and strengthening our community
My last word on this
Duke of Shomolu