Every drop of my tears.

The day they got married was the most beautiful day of their lives and just like every couple, they had dreams and aspirations, they wanted to have kids, they wanted each other as much as they wanted the finest things life can offer.

Their story began in Onicha ugbo a small community in Delta state, Benny was the star of his family and his parents gave him the best of everything, he went on to gain admission to study Business Administration in one of the top Universities and that was where he met Adaobi who was studying Banking and Finance. It was simply love at first sight when they first saw each other, the chemistry they shared could only be defined by a Priest so on the day of their wedding, the Priest told their story from the biblical point where God honored the man; Proverbs 5: 18.

"Rejoice in the wife of your youth"

Although they were both in the labor market before they got married. However, looking at the tensed societal pressure, they knew that they needed to add more salt to their stew because expecting a child gives room for alot of pressure and the fact that they were going to have a baby boy changed everything about Benny. He became more excited and doubled his hustle because he wanted to give his son double of what he got from his own parents as their first son.

In African, a first son means alot to a mother but to a father, he is a symbol of his strength and because of this Benny already had a name for his unborn son; he called him Ikemefuna. Benny worked as a sales representative in a beverage company and his input in the expansion of the company's sales propelled him to the post of a senior sales manager just after nine months of joining the company, he was offered a transfer to Lagos the commercial city of the country and to him, that was a dream come true because Lagos would offer him the desired resources to give his family the best as a father. Adaobi resigned from the bank where she worked because the bank couldn't give her a transfer to their branch in Lagos.

Life in Lagos was different from life in their small community, there were more people in lagos and only a section of a street can sum up the population of people in their community and hustling was simply 24/7. There was no day and no night because lots of businesses strived mainly at night. Benny and Adaobi who was heavily pregnant adapted to Lagos life though the only problem Benny had was movement. He found it difficult to understand the road network so he preferred using the public transport system instead of driving himself. Now three months in Lagos and Adaobi due in one month, Benny established business links with lots of marketers courtesy of his cousin Onyeka who has a shop in one of the markets in the heart of Lagos.

Benny always left house as early as 5am every day then got back home latest 6pm, he was a faithful husband but one day a lady called him and Adaobi answered the call and that arose her suspicion because ladies in the cities are quite different from those in the rural communities, in the city there are more gold diggers but in Lagos; more home wreckers. She questioned why Benny who always came back by 6pm when they newly arrived all of a sudden started coming back as late as 10pm. Benny tried to explain who the caller was and the change in his time but she wouldn't take his explanation.

She cried...

Benny my love; are you cheating on me?

Benny told her that he recently acquired a shop in the market where he would retail beverages and the caller was Chioma one of the sales girls he wanted to employ because he can't double in the shop and the change in his time was simply caused by the hectic Lagos traffic because Chima who usually gave him lift has been sick.

Adaobi felt bad for distrusting her beloved husband but Benny understood because it is common for pregnant women to be aggressive besides Adaobi is one of those extremely jealous type. She had during their courtship almost beaten up Edith Benny's immediate younger sister after mistaken her for his girlfriend. She apologised to her husband for causing him pain and normalcy returned to their beautiful home. Then two days afterwards, Benny left for the market to collect money from the customers he supplied goods.

He arranged a taxi to take Adaobi for antenatal and also promised to buy her goat peper soup from calabar kitchen on his way back. Adaobi called him on his cell phone around one pm to remind him about the peper soup then she called him again thirty minutes later to know if he has finished in the market but he told her that he was half way done then she called him again few minutes past two to inform him that she was done at the clinic so he sent a taxi to pick her, he initially wanted her to come to the market so that she could see the shop he rented but saturdays are always hectic and coupled with the fact that Christmas was fast approaching, that particular saturday had the market jammed so he changed his mind and she went home straight.

As dusk drew near, she called him again to know if he was on his way but this time, his cell phone was off and she knew the reason; his cell phone has battery issue, he charges it more than five times daily when he is at work and possibly had no chance to charge it at the market. Adaobi waited patiently on the couch in the living room but nature took its cause and she dozed off only to woke up soaked because power failed and the sitting room became hot. She picked up her cell phone and tried his number once again but it was still switched off then she stared at the screen of her cell phone and it was twelve fifteen am.

Where is Benny? She asked herself then she called Onyeka Benny's first cousin who has a shop in the market and he told her that Benny left the market around six pm. She called few of their relatives reaiding in Lagos to know if Benny decided stop over at any of their houses but none had information about him. With a heavy heart she succumbed on the sofa blinking at the tick of the clock, she couldn't sleep and every sound or footstep touched her heart then finally she dozed off and opening her eyes again, she looked at the clock and it was eight am.

She quickly picked her phone from the table and dialled his number but it was still switched off.

She called Edith who lived in Benin city but she had no information about him then she called Onyeka but he was already in the church and couldn't take her call. She picked up Benny's diary and going through it, she saw Chioma's number so she decided to call her to know if she might have a clue but met a dead end. She didn't know what else to do and who else to call as she sat on the couch dejected.

Where on earth will Benny be?

Is he safe? Oh Lord please guide and bring my husband back safe she cried.

Adaobi found herself in a confused state and the fact that nobody had information about Benny's whereabouts worried everyone but one thing was certain, he wasn't lost and would surely come back Onyeka assured her. Perhaps that assurance was all she needed but something came up as evening drew nearer.

Iya Kayode told her husband Baba about the incident she witnessed at the market bus stop the previous day but she wasn't sure if it was omo igbo though the man looked just like him. She was about entering the bus when she heard one woman shouting 'olé olé olé olé, he thief my money, see am there'. As she turned back, she saw a man slapped someone and before she could access what was happening, there was a small crowd around the man and the woman's voice was thundering, you think say you go run away, thief! She watched as the small crowd increased to about fifty people armed with sticks, rods, stones, belts and different harmful objects.

The man was well dressed gladdened on black trouser and white shirt but as the crowd landed the objects on him, you could hear him pleading; 'I am not a thief, I didn't steal her money'. But mercy was far at his reach then one man, who should be at his mid twenties and looked like he command respect among the street boys beating the man intervened so the beating stopped but the man was already soaked with blood then the man asked the woman how much he stole from her and she said 'ten thousand Naira'. The man then ordered the man to be searched and lo and behold, ten thousand Naira was found in his front pocket and they also found more money in the bag he had on him.

'Where did you steal all these money from'? Someone asked him but he was too weak to speak so as he sobered and tried to gather words to speak, the man who halted the beating struck him with a long heavy plank and he fell backwards then the beating commenced and this time, it was intensified then someone shouted 'you go regret stealing in this market'. The man gathered words and kept shouting that he wasn't a thief but the crowd was out to finish him. The woman watched as the crowd descended on the man and his dress tore at every struck on him. Blood oozed out from his head, nose and gradually he was became weak.

Then someone rolled in tire and one of the people beating him dipped hand into his bag which was with the man who seemed to be the leader and took one thousand Naira note then crossed the road and came back within minutes carrying a bottle of petrol. 'That is what happens to thief' people were heard saying so the woman watched as the man was dragged on the main road and mulled then the tire was placed on his neck but he gathered strength and one more time begged the crowd that he wasn't a thief, he told them his name and where he worked but Iya Kayode didn't hear him well.

The police arrived at the scene just as the man with the petrol was about to pour it on the man then managed to put the crowd under control though they showed no mercy on the man because he was a police enemy but the kind hearted Inspector arrested the man instead and the police snatched him away. Baba knew Benny very well because he used to greet him all the time so he wanted to be sure that he was fine but upon getting to his house, Adaobi told him that he has not returned since yesterday and Baba got worried. Adaobi confirmed that he wore white shirt and black trouser just as Iya Kayode described about the man she saw the crowd almost killed the previous day.

Is it that this boy is a thief Baba questioned himself but how do he tell Adaobi about the incident?

He didn't know what to do but a part of him was convinced that the thief beaten up by the mob was Benny so he simply told Adaobi to go to Area D police station because Benny might be there.

Why would he be at the police station? She questioned.

Just go there and find out he advised her.

Why on earth would he be in the police station of all place in this world? Adaobi imagined so she ruled out the possibility but Baba told her that this is Lagos and not Onitsha. Although Baba wasn't sure that the man his wife saw was Benny. However, he insisted to go and check at the police station with her.

Adaobi called Onyeka and told him what Baba suggested but he ruled it out because Benny had no business with the police. But Baba insisted to talk with Onyeka so he told him about the incident the previous day so he decided to go and check at the police station by himself because Baba was right, you never can tell so reluctantly, Onyeka went to the police station and as he approached the entrance, he noticed the presence of the press and also saw people seated on the ground.

The police area command had a group of arrested bandits on parade so the press came to cover the story surrounding their arrest and among the bandits who were arrested in different locations was a face familiar to Onyeka but wait he shouted; could this be Benny? He fainted the moment he walked closer and saw that the guy with broken jaw and swollen face was his cousin Benny. Benny saw the commotion but didn't know what caused it until Onyeka was revieved then the police got to know who he was and what his mission was.

How did Benny ended up been paraded with dangerous bandits when he was whisked away by the police in a separate incident which the police failed to investigate to find out if truly he stole the money the mob that almost killed him accused him of stealing? Onyeka understood the complication facing them because the bandits were about to be charged to court the next day and they all faced multiple charges raging from kidnapping, extortion, rape, armed robbery, murder and possession of illegal fire arms.

He couldn't process the situation but he knew exactly what to do so he called Edith and informed her about the situation then also got Barrister Fred on board. Barrister Fred is a human right activit known for his radical approch towards human right abuse. The only thing to save Benny was the involvement of a strong lawyer like him because the police grouped him as a member of the seven man gang which has been terrorising the entire country and to worsen the situation, all the armed robbers identified him as one of them and he was too weak to even pronounce his name talk more of defending himself.

The complexity and complicated nature of the case got everyone broken. There was no way to keep hiding the situation from Adaobi so Onyeka told her exactly what had been going on the past four days because Benny wasn't going to come back anytime soon. If tears were enough to set someone free then Benny would have gotten his freedom but the police wasn't cooperating and they denied picking Benny at the bus stop rather the charge sheet showed that he was arrested in the company of three other bandits after exchange of gun shots with the police.

Barrister Fred requested for Benny to be given medical attention but the Judge denied that so he was reminded in the maximum prison and the case adjuned for two months. He wasn't going to see his son who will be born in two weeks time and might die in prison before the next hearing.

Barrister Fred had the file of one of the most complicated cases in his career right on his table. And all he needed as fast as possible was a break or Benny will face firing squad by the time the case is over.

The team of police men that whisked him from the mob added nothing but petrol to a burning fire. And Benny's fate lied in the hand of God.

How is it that a man would be wrongly accused by those meant to protect him? And they watch him wallow in grief yet they kneel down and say prayers. Who the hell do they say their prayers to?

Benny was whisked away by a team of five police officers, they saved him from being lynched by an angry mob, they averted the street ilegal justice system; JUNGLE JUSTICE yet committed the worst atrocity by adding his name to the list of the arrested most dangerous outlaws. Did they do that to gain promotion? Did they do that because they simply wanted to suffer the innocent man, after all he would have been dead? What would prompt a man to condemn a fellow man? They even went as far as threatening the outlaws with death and painful jail term should they disclose to anyone that they don't know who the strange guy among them was.

The court wasn't interested in the testimonies of the criminals rather focused on the police report. How is it possible for the same law which held one bandage to be at the person's mercy? 'If you don't have a lawyer, the state would provide you one'. Benny didn't see his son Ikemefuna when he was born and might not see him but even if he ever have the chance to touch his boy then he might do that by passing his hands throw the protector of a jail window. Barrister Fred believed him but the police complicated the whole situation but if only Daniel and his gang members would be courageous enough then Benny might have the chance of a life time. However, Barrister Fred knew his ways and he knew the street too so he decided to tackle the situation by touching the scene of the mob action.

But who in the street would help?

At the next court appearance, Benny had fully recovered thanks to a good prison warder who also believed him but couldn't do much for him because among the one thousand nine hundred and seventy two inmates in the over populated prison, four hundred were presumed innocent of the crime they were accused of and Benny was one of them. No matter how complex a situation might be, accepting your fate in the mist of trials and tribulations is a winning formular and that was what Benny did. He was worried not about himself but about his lovely wife and son.

My dear wife Adaobi,

I know that you are bouncing in the Lord and I am sure that Ikem is doing well. Has he started crawling? Is he still breastfeeding? My love, I know that this situation is killing you but believe me, I will bounce out of this strong. God will not let me to die here, he will surely make a way for us to win over this situation so my darling please be strong and know that everything works for the glory of God.

We might not understand why this whole thing happened but I have long grown over self pity and have forgiven everyone that participated in the ordel that befell me and I want you to forgive them too because that is what God wants us to do. My dear, make sure that you take good care of Ikem. Go to my father and ask him to give you the key to the vault. There is a total sum of one million naira inside it, please manage the money and get me vitamins when coming on the next visit.

I love you baby and will never change.

Yours Husband,
Benny.

That was one of the letters Benny wrote while hoping for the grace of God which seemed very far from him as time flew.

Imagine spending three years awaiting trial for a crime you didn't commit.

Benny's freedom lies solely in the hands of the radical barrister who vowed to get him justice because the law itself isn't meant to protect people like him.

Life can be cruel atimes. What profit did the five police men who knew the truth but covered it got from allowing a careless system to swallow an innocent man? The pain and agony of this innocent man is enough to make life miserable for them because one thing is sure, there is karma.

Remember Funke Omotayejaye? I am sure that you don't know her because this is the first time her name is been mentioned though she played a crucial role in Benny's predicament. Funke was the woman who accused Benny of stealing her ten thousand Naira. Nobody ever saw or heard from her after that incident even few of the boys who Barrister Fred got hold of while investigating the event at the bus stop had no knowledge of her whereabouts although the boys acknowledged the fact that the incident actually occurred and police took the man away but none of them agreed to pay Benny a visit to identify him because all Barrister Fred wanted was for someone to come up and back up Benny's claim.

The four boys otherwise called area boys bluntly refused to do that because they were all afraid that such thing might land them in trouble but the truth is that they all had skeleton in their cupboards. They are not clean and Tunde the leader of the area boys disappeared because Benny had a total of six hundred and twenty five thousand naira in his bag that fateful day and Barrister Fred wanted to know what happened to the bag. While Barrister Fred was doing everything he could to have a break in the case, one of the police men that arrested Benny that day was battling with his conscience, he wanted to do the right thing but Inspector Umaru warned him to watch the lines. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why we hear of police men that died mysteriously.

As the curtain drew closer and two of the gang members already dead in custody, Benny formed a formidable friendship with Jango one of his co accused. Jango whose real name is Umunna Michael gave his life to Christ in prison, he confessed to Barrister Fred about the entire conspiracy by the police and was ready to do the right thing because saying the truth might eventually set him free too. While Barrister Fred was busy gathering all the needed facts to split at the court as the day of judgement drew closer, he needed to link so many facts because he had never lost a case and even if he would loose one not this one he vowed.

There was this evangelist, not everyone knew about him because he doesn't own a private jet, doesn't tele evangelise and doesn't own a multi million church auditorium but he was famous among inmates all over the nation because he showed them compassion and so many convicts and ex convicts found their paths in life through his ministry, he went round the entire nation touching lives of inmates, securing freedom for the forgotten and transforming dangerous citizens to positive elements. He was the very person that led Jango to Christ.

Funke had four miscarriages in five years, she was three months pregnant as of the day she accused a man of stealing her money only to reach home and saw the same ten thousand Naira lying on the stool inside her bedroom. She forgot to take the money while leaving for the market that day. Memories of that fateful day hunted her all these years because she wrongfully accused an innocent man who almost got killed because she was careless. Her husband accussed his own Uncle of diabolically causing his wife miscarriages because of the land dispute between him and his late father.

Could any of these be the reason for Funke's series of miscarriages?

She shared the story of the event at the bus stop with her husband and also with her very good friend Ijeoma so after experiencing a fifth miscarriage of a set of twins, Ijeoma told her about a certain man of God because her case is spiritual and she was eager to meet that man of God.

They never talk about an inmate's feelings because to them its not a fact but what happens when a wrongfully incarcerated man begins to cry? Does the gods of the land hear his cry? Does the law of the land provide room for redress? We might never get the answers to these questions but one thing is clear; there is a day to plant, a day to harvest and a day to take stock.

Funke got it all mixed up because her conscience didn't give her a breathing space. She felt bitter for her carelessness and blamed herself for causing havoc to an innocent man which to her is the cause of her predicament so when she finally met the man of God and confessed her terrible sin to him, he prayed for her and told her that her sins has been forgiven. Her sins has been forgiven just like that? What about Benny? Who will pardon him for suffering because of the sin of another person? Life is about fate so as fate may have it Funke got pregnant again but entering her second trimester, she woke up in the middle of the night because she felt a shock on her tommy and to her worst imagination, she was soaked in blood; another miscarriage.

Does it mean that her sins were not forgiven and her prayer and that of the twenty prayer warriors, the man of God's, her husban's and best friend's failed to get to the desired destination? The answer to this question was answered the day Funke visited Dr Maureen because she was diagnosed of Hormone abnormalities, this condition is responsible for reoccurring pregnancy loose in women. However, while Funke found solution to her problem, the man her carelessness sent close to his grave has a story to tell the newly elected State Governor who visited the prison.

The newly elected State Governor was on a visit to see the condition of the prison because he was informed about the over population and the poor living condition of the prisoners. The inmates were happy because the Governor came to visit them, to improve their condition so they requested to pray for the Governor and he granted the request but isn't it abnormal that prisoners, dangerous criminals, outlaws would pray for a man in his position? Well, this depends on which prayer God answers.

Benny was selected to pray but looking at his condition, the Governor decided to know why he was in prison and this was what he said...

-Nine years of incarceration he cried; sir I am innocent of the crime that brought me here. I know that I might not come out here alive and I have lost trust in God because if truly he is merciful, I would not be here; my son is nine years old sir I was here when he was born, I stopped my wife from visiting me because each time she came here, a pint of my life die and I don't want to die in her presence. Sir this man standing next to me is my co accussed, he can tell you the truth about my connection to his gang. Every drop of my tears will forever be a curse upon the police officers who did this to me, as of the woman that accused me of stealing her money, she will never have peace and for the people that beat me that day, sir one by one they would be visited by predicament, none of them will have peace.

The Governor was touched by his condition and he understood one thing from Benny's cry.

This man is innocent. The Governor was moved so he hugged Benny and immediately requested that he be transfered to the hospital for medical evaluation. The story about the innocent prisoner went viral, all news outlet carried it and you are reading it today. Benny was awarded Governor's pardon and the state paid him one hundred million naira in compensation. That five police officers were sacked from service.

Funke might never meet Benny but at least, she saw the news and that was a relief for her. Although this story is fiction but...

...It was inspired by actual events and it is dedicated to

Christian Okezie Chukwuka