Alhaji Bature woke up 48hours later at the UCH, Ibadan. He had survived an attack by some unknown assailants. He had just woken up after an induced coma to stop the bleeding. His eyes opened to the sight of a team of doctors, some police officers from the Agodi area Command, and his wife, who gathered round him, hoping for his full recovery. The surgeon informed him that the surgery was a success and that he would be discharged from hospital in a few days. “Baba, Olorun ose oh”, Iya Musiliu the first wife muttered as she raised her hands to the heavens. She arranged for his favourite meal, amala, and just as he was about to start eating, he asked after Quadri and Chukwuma. “My money, the loan”, he screamed.
The doctors advised him to take things gently and to wait until after he was discharged before he could go back to work. Alhaji told the doctor that he needed to see his accountant urgently. The doctor replied, “What for?” With a charming smile, he told the doctor he needed to sign off on some documents for the company. The doctor agreed reluctantly and allowed him to contact his accountant. He picked up is phone and dialed Quadri. The call went through and he barked, “Quadri, goodness gracious, where on earth are you? Didn’t you hear that I was set upon by some assailants in Ijebu –Ode?” Quadri told Alhaji Bature that he was on his way to Ibadan and that he would arrive at the hospital in 45minutes. Alhaji Bature was not the least bothered about tuwo or the doctors’ warnings about his health status or wellbeing. He was only interested in one thing, which was the cooked up financials which he presumed was with Mr. Quadri, who had promised him that he would arrive in forty five minutes time.
As he waited patiently for the arrival of Mr. Quadri, it occurred to him that he had not asked after his driver, Akpan. Mr. Akpan had worked for him for close to 13years and he was very close to the family of the Bature’s. He asked his wife about the whereabouts of Akpan, and he was immediately told that
Akpan was kidnapped by the assailants while. He was told by the officers present that preliminary findings showed that Akpan’s phone was used to make several calls. One of such calls was traced to Mr. Quadri’s phone. He was told that the police believe that the call made to Quadri was for the payment of ransom. The police were also waiting for Mr. Quadri to arrive, so that they can interrogate him on any possible motives, his whereabouts and what was nature of the phone conversation he had with the person who used Akpan’s phone to call him. Alhaji Bature found the insinuations absurd. He wondered why the assailants will waste their time kidnapping a soft target like Akpan and not him instead. He felt that there was something fishy about the police’s theory, but he decided against saying anything further so as not to jeopardize the investigation.
Mr. Quadri burst into the ward, he greeted everybody present and introduced himself as the accountant of Bio Chemicals. Alhaji Bature requested some moments alone with Quadri and asked everybody to step outside briefly. The police officers told Quadri that they would like to interview him after he has finished with Alhaji Bature. They all left the room and Alhaji asked Quadri gleefully in a soft tone. “Quadri, where are the financials I hope you brought them for signing, they must be sent to Chukwuma immediately.” Mr. Quadri interjected,” Sir, there must be a mix up, I do not have any financials here!”
