WHO'S THE THIEF? II

A long silence.

Then Mr Aliu – a well respected business man, feared and seated at the far end – spoke.

“Who, then, is the criminal?”

Chief Adeyemi strolled around the table, wine swirling in his crystal glass.

"Criminals..." he scoffed "you mean".

He froze, sharp gaze raking each living being in the room.

Mrs. Kaka set her glass down hard. Patience gone.

"Why not cut to the chase and tell us what you mean?"

She looked at the others

"Abi..."

A few nodded, barely.

“Alright, alright...” Madam K said, trying to cut the tension.

She shifted her gaze to Chief Adeyemi.

“Yemi, please go on. We’re all running out of time here.”

Chief Adeyemi gave a knowing smirk. Said nothing. He picked up a small iPad from the table and slid it to Senator Bako before taking his seat.

“See.”

Senator Bako picked up the iPad. Clueless, he began scrolling. His eyes widened. All eyes fixed on him. He was the spotlight now.

“Hmm. This one that everybody is playing cat and mouse... I hope you people know that some of us have something important outside this meeting. Because kíni gbogbo nonsense yìí now?” Madam Halima snapped, folding her arms.

Senator Bako dropped the iPad with a chuckle.

“Halimo... be calming down. This matter no be small case o.”

Mrs. Nkechi, seated beside Senator Bako, leaned in like the nosy cat she was. “Biko, hapụ m legodu ihe unu n’akpa...” She retrieved the iPad from the table. “Let me see.”

“Ewooooo,” she exclaimed almost immediately. “What’s going on here?”

“Ahh.” She removed her glasses and looked at Mr. Adeyemi. “What am I seeing hia?”

Chief Adeyemi grinned, mischievous. Senator Bako chuckled, understanding the gesture.

She turned to Madam Halima, who was still clueless. “Who did this kwanu?”

Madam Halima snatched the iPad.

Her eyes scanned. Once. Twice.

Then she exhaled, heavy, and turned to Madam K on her left.

“There is fire on the mountain...”

Chief Adeyemi, Senator Bako, and Mrs. Nkechi answered in unison:

“Run, run, run...”

The table soured. Murmurs scattered. A few trembled.

One thing was certain today:

An empire will fall. Another will bloom.

This wasn’t unusual. But it didn’t happen often.

And when it did — it shook people.

Then... the iPad pinged.

Everyone froze as Madam Halima picked it up.

Pause.

“Wow.” She chuckled in disbelief. “You don’t mean it.”

More notifications popped up. Each _ping_ matched the heartbeat of the room.

Out of annoyance, she slid the iPad to Mrs. Nkechi, who gasped.

“_Arụ́_.”

Abomination.

The iPad passed to Senator Bako. His face drained of color.

Finally, Chief Adeyemi. He just hummed. As if he’d expected it.

Madam Halima turned to Madam K, disgusted. “Why are people like this?”

Madam K looked around, her face caught between confusion and fear. “What happened na? Why are you people keeping us in the dark? Tell us what’s going on.”

Mrs. Nkechi’s lip curled in disdain. “You’re really asking that? You, this greedy fool. After all you and your family have done, you still have the audacity to talk rubbish?”

Mr. Godwin Bassey, the husband of Mrs. Kate Bassey nicknames Madam K, snapped. “Don’t you dare talk to my wife in such a disrespectful manner.”

Mrs. Nkechi shot to her feet. “And look at you. Incompetent nonentity. Aren’t you people even ashamed of yourselves?”

Across the table, Madam Halima fixed a calm, controlled glare on a man in his early forties. “Even you... Pastor.”

“Omo, nawa o. Nawa for una o.”

The Pastor shook. Beads of sweat stood out on his face despite the heavy AC.

Senator Bako hissed through his teeth. “Shuu.”

Madam Halima turned to him, shaking her head in disbelief. She mouthed the words: Look at how innocent and composed they’re acting.

Senator Bako frowned. “Can you imagine.”

Madam Halima clicked her tongue. “People are very funny o.”

Senator Bako shrugged. “Na today you just dey know?”

He turned to Chief Adeyemi, adjusting his agbada as he stood. “Please, if you’d excuse me. I have a meeting with the President. You’ll tell me all about it when I settle at home later.”

Madam Halima watched him. “Aha. You don dey go.”

Senator Bako flashed a tight smile. “Yes o. Leader of today wan go talk matter about una yeye country. See you next time.” He waved at the few composed faces left at the table. “Una bye-bye o.”

Madam Halima’s voice was ice. “Good night.”

Chief Adeyemi made a small gesture with his hand — I’ll call.

Senator Bako pointed a finger. “Chief, chief, handle this matter well.”

Chief Adeyemi nodded. “Sure, sir.”

Meanwhile, the commotion between Mrs. Nkechi and Mr. Godwin raged on.

“Enough”

The word left Chief Adeyemi's mouth and cut through the room like blade.

“Everyone sit. We will settle this like civilized men and women, not like animals in the market square.”

Silence obeyed him first.

Then the chairs groaned against the marble floor, reluctant, dragging out the moment. Silence returned, heavier this time.

In that silence, the Basseys’ hearts thundered in their chests. But their faces—stone... Unbending. Ready for what comes next.

Chief Adeyemi leaned forward, his eyes sharp as flint. “Godwin. Kate. The Zurich accounts.

The twelve percent of the port shares.

You signed.”

Mr. Godwin slammed his palm on the ebony table. Crystal jumped.

"You lie. We signed nothing."

 Madam Halima and Mrs. Nkechi exchanged looks.

Madam K did not flinch. She sat still, spine straight, composure a shield against the storm.

“If you mean to accuse us, then show us what you hold against us. Let us see the proof that gave birth to this betrayal.”

Chief Adeyemi exhaled, slow and deliberate, as if releasing years of disappointment. He slid the iPad across the table. It glided, reflecting the cold light above like a verdict.

“Go ahead.”

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