JOHN'S POV

I took one last look at myself in the three quartered mirror in my office to access my look. The suit stuck and clinged to me like a second skin. I knew I was already adding weight. Today was the final hearing of Mr Olugoke. It was a bright Monday morning. Everything felt normal and sequential. There were no news of James but I hoped that he was alright. The tie was laying on the desk but I had no idea how to use it on my neck. The previous ones I used were already laid and crafted in the wardrobe.

"Do you need help with that?" Eniola said, opening the door slightly.

"Sure, I had no idea you were there." I chuckled.

Eniola walked up to me wearing a grin, she placed a hand on the desk to pick up the tie and threw the tie on my neck. Eniola looked short even though she was in heels. At a point, I felt like a teenager. My heart was beating rapidly because of her soft hands doing works on my neck.

But it was soon overpowered by an uncomfortable moment as Eniola kept twisting the tie in a different manner than I imagined.

"Eniola you are suffocating me." I said,shooting a glare at her.

"Sorry, it's my first trial. so it might be rough." Eniola whispered.

"You had no idea of how to do it and you wanted to help. Good job trainee." I chuckled sarcastically.

"There's a first time for everything." Eniola pouted.

"Good morning boss." Kemi said smiling.

I turned to grace her greeting but I was baffled at her outlook once more. She was dressed in a turtle necked blouse which looked completely out of vogue on a long flaired skirt reaching her ankle matched with a black shoe. Her face was completely bare and she bundled her hair into a bun. I shot a quizzing look at Eniola.

"What did you do?" I said folding my arms.

"Don't look at me.I am not her wardrobe." Eniola said,raising her arms in denial.

"She didn't do anything. I decided to look decent as you said." Kemi said chuckling.

"Don't you think it's overboard? Can you breathe in that?" I said, placing two fingers on my chin.

"It's comfortable sir." Kemi said, reassuringly.

"Can I help you with your tie." Kemi added,pointing at my undone tie.

"Yes, you can."I said smiling.

Eniola frowned at Kemi and left my side to settle on a chair. Kemi did my tie in a matter of seconds and it didn't feel uncomfortable.

"Wow,you are very good at this." I said shaking Kemi's hands.

"Thank you sir.I could teach you if you don't mind." Kemi said, playing with the hem of her skirt.

"I don't mind.But I have a case today so that would have to wait." I said chuckling.

I reached for the robe and I wore it in a jiffy. I smiled at Kemi once more.

"If anyone asks of me, tell them i am in the court." I said closing the buttons.

"Alright sir." Kemi said.

"Eniola, please get up." I said, gesturing with my brows.

Eniola got up with a slow movement, walking with style and elegance, probably to piss off Kemi.

"Alright, how do I look?" I added.

"Handsome as usual." Eniola winked.

"Make sure you are with your phone." I said.

"Why?" Eniola asked, walking over to where Kemi was.

"So you could take pictures of me." I said laughing.

"Show off." Eniola snorted.

"It's almost time. Let's go." Eniola said,wearing a huge grin.

"So what will I be doing?" Kemi asked sheepishly.

I was about to respond but Eniola interrupted.

"Guard the door. There are lots of confidential papers in this office. Start with that if you are desperate to keep your job." Eniola stated with a fake smile.

The atmosphere felt thick with tension as Kemi and Eniola were locked in a staring competition, waiting for whom to strike next. I knew that the only way to stop this was to get Eniola out of here.

"Let's be on our way." I said, dragging a perplexed Eniola by the hand.

**************

"The court may sit!"

I made a quick prayer to God. The only solution to this trial was Mariam. I shot a glance at Eniola who was scribbling something on a sheet on paper. I smiled. The hearing hadn't begun and Eniola was already hyped up.

One of the clerks passed a spiral bound paper to me. I wondered why they kept photocopying it. They were ready to waste so much on paper, maybe that's why our nation never keeps progressing.

"On the 15th of April, 2016. Mr Tolu Olugoke was arrested with a charge of physical assault on a thirteen year old identified as his daughter, Mariam,the victim. This is the second trial."

"Any last statements from the procesution and defense counsel." I said.

The defendant and the prosecutor both stood up and bowed down at the same time to acknowledge the supremacy before them.

"No, your Honor." They both said.

I continued.

"Before I give the verdict, is there anyone among the audience that wishes to object?"

No one raised up a arm.I wasn't suprised that Mariam wasn't going to show up. I looked at the scripted paper with a sullen face and was about to read when a shy head shot up a hand from the back of the court.

"Please come to the witness stand." I said loudly.

The figure walked slowly and the eyes of the crowd followed the figure as well. What suprised me was that I was staring at the person I never expected.

Mariam.

Mariam walked to the witness box ignoring the Bible and the Quran placed in front of her.

"My name is Mariam Olugoke. I am the daughter to the accused and also a daughter to the plaintiff. I don't need a Bible or a Quran to state the truth. I have bottled it in for years and I am ready to talk because I know you all will listen."

Mariam turned and looked at her mother who was now shivering in shock.

"Mama, I love you but someone once told me that I can't ruin someone's life to save another. For years you physically assaulted me because papa cheated on you, because he didn't pay my school fees,he neglected me and because of that you were often frustrated and you threw everything on me."

Mariam turned and faced me.

"Your Honor. On that fateful day. My father was drunk but he was alert. My mother saw him sprawled on the floor and because she was so angry ,she physically assaulted me, but I screamed and ran out of the house and a neighbor caught me crying. Before I could speak, my mother had pinned it on my father."

"My mother begged me not to speak, she said if my father goes to prison ,he would out of our lives for good.But I have realized that I can't lie anymore. I am so sorry mama." Mariam said sobbing aloud.

One of the guards took her from the witness box and guided her to the back of the court. The audience were quiet in shock and her mother covered her face in shame.

"So this is a new development. Both the procesution or the defense counsel can't be blamed. But here is my judgement. The accused, Mr Tolu Olugoke is discharged and acquitted having being found innocent." I said gaining a uproar from the audience.

"But Mrs Olugoke, you are charged with perjury. You swore with the Holy Bible and you still lied. If you wanted your husband out of your life, you should have simply requested for a divorce but going this far wasn't necessary. Now the tables have turned and the entire blame is on you. No wonder your husband refused to talk.I hereby sentence you to three months in jail with hard labour." I continued.

The crowd once more screamed and the hefty security guards lazily standing at the adjoining doors lifted Mrs Olugoke and handcuffed her,dragging her against her will.

"But before I end this trial ,Mrs Olugoke I want to tell you one last message that you should never forget throughout your days in prison." I said,as one of the security guards twisted her head to look at me.

"Fear the sins that you commit in secret, because the witness of those sins is the judge himself."