Chapter 3: Suspicion and Doubt

For my mind, Baba Musa na correct person. All these years, my daughter dey follow him bus, Baba Musa never late one day. I no believe say he fit do such thing.

I remember how he dey whistle old army song, dey share groundnut with gate-man, always make sure children fasten seatbelt. The man get that no-nonsense, but fatherly style. E worry me.

I decide to ask my daughter direct.

That evening after food, I put her for small sofa. TV off, the air heavy. I talk soft, “Omalicha, tell Daddy true. Which number you be when Baba Musa touch you? Who dey before you? Who dey after you?”

She just dey hesitate, no fit answer. I press, “Tell Daddy the truth—Baba Musa really touch you?”

Her eyes dey waka, hand dey twist shirt. My heart dey beat—she dey hide something?

My daughter burst cry because of my question. My wife vex, talk say I no trust our pikin, say as parent, we suppose support am.

Adaora burst enter, towel for head. “So you dey interrogate our daughter like police? You no trust am again? Na so dem dey break child spirit o!” Her voice thunder like NEPA transformer.

“Whether Baba Musa innocent or not, na police work be that. Wetin concern us? At worst, we go just apologise to am.”

She pour water, words short. “Na for police to find out who dey lie. Make we stand with our pikin first.” She look me like say make I talk one more word.

I no talk again, but she get point. Police sabi their work—dem no go wrongly accuse person.

I swallow my worry, just dey pray say police go find the real truth. For inside, I dey wonder if I dey do enough as papa.

Police check CCTV and GPS for school bus. Dem confirm say Baba Musa follow all rule that day. Unless say e fit do magic touch, no time for am to do anything.

I go station watch the video with other parents. We see Baba Musa drive steady, hand no leave wheel. GPS show no detour. But suspicion no gree die—“He fit do am quick, nobody go know,” one parent talk.

Still, police run forensic for the five children. No Baba Musa fingerprint, but small DNA show, so dem no fit rule out small contact.

Police call us back for more tests—swab, fingerprint, everything. Waiting room smell of Dettol and tears. Every parent dey watch police like hawk, tension full everywhere.

At the end, police give ambiguous result: “No direct evidence of molestation was found.”

DPO read report, eye dey waka from parent to parent. The only sound na baby wey dey cry for corridor.

As result come out, parents vex, shout say police dey cover up, begin call everywhere.

WhatsApp group scatter—no be only text, voice notes dey fly up and down. “Na so Nigeria dey spoil!” “Police dey protect their own!” “If na big man pikin, dem for jail am quick!” Trust vanish, everybody dey para.

Few hours later, police change tune: “It is impossible to rule out the suspect’s possibility of committing the crime.”

Officer call us back, voice soft. “Oga, na for court to decide now.”

Even though the statement nearly mean same thing, the effect different. Prosecutor open case based on the second statement.

As news spread, neighbours dey look themselves with side-eye. Mothers hold their daughters tight for school gate. Tension everywhere.

Because all the victims na girls, prosecutor push for the highest punishment—seven years.

Person whisper, “Na witchcraft, see as girls dey suffer.” Prosecutor, tall woman with sharp eyes, make her case with fire.

Case reach court fast. Baba Musa bring two witnesses. First na his old commander, wey talk say Baba Musa disciplined and upright for army, even get award during Jos flood rescue. “I trust Musa! If he say he no do am, na true I dey talk, walahi!” The judge just nod.

Second witness na Baba Musa mama. Old woman cry for court. “If no be my sickness, my son for don marry. He be good pikin, very obedient. He no fit do such bad thing...”

She cry so tey, wrapper nearly fall, voice dey shake in Hausa and English. Some people wipe tears, prosecutors no even blink.

But all the evidence no really connect to the real case. Na only God know wetin happen that afternoon.

I look judge face, e strong like stone. Some people dey pray, some just dey look ground.

At the end, court find Baba Musa guilty and sentence am to five years for first trial.

As dem read sentence, Baba Musa leg bend. The old woman faint, police carry her out. Cold just hold me for body like iron.

Baba Musa no gree, appeal for court. Parents dey complain, say sentence too small.

People dey talk—some want more years, some say e too much. City split, nobody happy.