The next day just before setting out on the trip to Ibadan, Alhaji Bature was in such a good a mood , he knew he had played his cards right and that he had succeeded in blackmailing Mr. Quadri to illegally doctor the company’s financials to his advantage. He felt that he had boxed Mr. Quadri into a tight corner and that there was no escaping for him. He had started making elaborate plans of what to do with the money once Mr. Chukwuma approves the loan and the bank disburses it. He had big plans and he kept them secret. One of the plans for the loan was to pay off a few debts and to take a second wife. He also wanted to procure a bullet proof car for protection for his impending berth into politics.
That morning, just before boarding his vehicle, he made a quick call to Mr. Chukwuma. He rang the man and said, “Chukwuma, good morning, please once I return from the trip to Ibadan, I will send the financials to you. I beg you; kindly make sure you expedite action on my request. The money must be disbursed to me as soon as possible!” He waved to Alhaja Bature his wife, who asked the driver to drive safely and ensure that her husband returns in one piece. She winked at Akpan the driver, just as he got into the car and whispered something to his hearing as Alhaji made another quick call. As the car sped off Alhaji Bature smirked surreptitiously at his seeming ingenuity and well thought out plan of how he intended to fool the bank with the bogus financials, all with the help of his accountant. He grimaced as the car drove off feeling proud of himself, if only he knew what misfortune was lurking in the shadows ahead.
At Mr. Quadri’s residence, he had just narrated his predicament to his wife, his wife asked him to take his plight to the almighty for intervention. She cautioned him about the implication of altering the company’s financials and that it was an offence. As a law abiding citizen she advised her husband to take the honourable route, which was to resign his position as the accountant of the company and to report the case to the authorities. But Quadri wasn’t telling his wife the whole truth. He didn’t tell his wife that he had a well thought out plan to counter Alhaji Bature with the recoded tapes. Mr. Quadri was very confident of his plan, and didn’t need his wife’s motherly advice. He thought that he played his card very well, perhaps even better than Alhaji Bature could have imagined. He knew he couldn’t afford to divulge his secret plan to his wife. Once his wife had any inkling of Quadri’s plan, he would be doomed for good. What Mrs. Quadri didn’t know was that Mr. Quadri was as vicious and ravenous as Alhaji Bature, the only difference between her husband and Alhaji Bature, was that one was taller than the other, simply put.
The journey to Ibadan continued peacefully until somewhere after Shapati filling station along Shagamu Ijebu Ode, when the driver stopped the car and parked off the road. “Akpan, what is the problem?” said Alhaji Bature. “Sir, the car de overheat oh! …We need to stop and check it Oga”. Akpan told Alhaji Bature that the cooling fan of the radiator had suddenly malfunctioned and that he needed to go and search for an electrician. They got down from the car, Alhaji appeared worried, he knew that he was in a dangerous situation, but trusted his loyal driver Akpan to come to his rescue. He remained inside the car as Akpan disappeared to go looking for the electrician. Alhaji got out when he saw Akpan crossing the freeway with a tall man in work clothes. Alhaji’s attention was focused on Akpan and the electrician on the other side of the road when Akpan shouted “Alhajiiiii, look out!”… Alhaji turned round and was struck at the back of his head.
