The Incorruptible Judge Book Review

Here is an entertainmental glimpse into the abuse of power and betrayal of public trust that is,or has become,the lot of many countries of Africa,particularly the West African country,Nigeria,from colonial times.The honest suffer unnecessarily.Officials are often not just corrupt but cruelly so.

   But the time portrayed in this play is when lawbreakers were afraid of the law; when the script and spirit of the law were enforced.Nowadays,it seems,it's the law that is afraid;the law are afraid of lawbreakers because most of what happens as enforcement of law are,in fact, enforcement of lawlesssness.

Another facet of the problem is manifested here:religionizing of everything;invocation and use of holy words in the doing or defence of unholy work.The word "God",a title of the holiest,most upright,most just being in existence,supposed to elicit reverence from human mortals,is now the-most used words by irrepentant thieves and hypocrites.

   Shown here also,and of undiminished importance,is the fact that in this ocean of moral and ethical mess,there're still islands of 'decency'.Extant oases still exist in this intense desert.The judge and the prosecution team courageously stood pat for the law, not even invoking any divine word,unlike the accused;and justice was "carried right",and not miscarried.

   Ajala Oni, a job seeker, responded to an advertisement.When going to submit his application letter,he met a classmate of his who already had a job though not half as brilliant as he.The friend commended him.

   In the office,the job recruiter recomfirmed the extra-suitability of Ajala, but insisted on being offered some "kola" in five pounds sterling before he would appoint the applicant.The desperately poor applicant, aware of the lawlessness of such a demand,reported the issue to the police. The detective strategised and the erring public trustee was caught.

   The accused had weight to heave around.The wife of the trial judge,his father-in-law,the customary chief of the community and the judge himself,were contacted with  the aim and the means of getting judgement perverted.The judge would not oblige;and without favour,fear,ill-will or impoliteness,he warded off the ill-intenders.

   In the courtroom,the judge and the jury would not be swayed or confused into condoning or venializing crime by the rigmarole of the defence.

Finally, the  accused  is  sentenced  as  due.