CONCEALED ILL
“Engr.
Egun.” Dr. Kuku called as he was seated in his office chair.
“Yes sir.” responded Engr. Peter Egun who sat
directly opposite the caller.
“What is this I am hearing about you?”
“What is it, sir?”
Dr. Andrew Kuku had remained hell-bent toward
ensuring that things were done the right way. Ever since he popularly emerged
as the Head of the Department of Civil Engineering in the revered Otiko Polytechnic
situated in the South-South zone of Nigeria, eleven months back precisely, he
had ostensibly vowed never to give room for any sort of criminality or
immorality, which included truancy, exam malpractice and ‘sorting’, among the
overall staff and students of the highly rated department.
Barely
three months back, he recommended a lecturer in the department who allegedly molested
female students sexually for dismissal right before the polytechnic Senate. The
recommendation became consequential after countless reports received about the
serial shameless acts of the alleged randy teacher. Consequently, the teacher
in question Engr. Joel Okala was suspended, and upon investigations of a 5-man
Committee set up by the polytechnic management, he was thereafter outrightly
disengaged.
Since about twelve weeks ago Engr.
Okala was dismissed by the polytechnic Governing Body, every staff not just in
the Civil Engineering department but in the entire Otiko Polytechnic had
thought it wise to sit up toward averting any form of embarrassment that could
be linked to their persons. But as the saying goes ‘there will always be a
Judas amid the twelve apostles’, it seemed Engr. Peter Egun was yet another
Judas in the midst of the disciples who had strongly vowed to remain committed
to their respective duties having witnessed Engr. Okala’s fate.
Therein, in the office of Dr. Andrew
Kuku in the morning on a Monday, precisely at about few minutes past ten, Engr.
Egun – a Masters degree holder in Civil Engineering – was about to be orally
queried by the boss. The meeting was necessitated by the rumours that had
filtered in lately, insinuating that the latter had been busy demanding money
from his students in return for good grades. The H.O.D had in the previous day
being Sunday called him (Engr. Egun) on phone, instructing him to see him in
the office unfailingly on the following day.
“That you now go about asking students for
money,” Dr. Kuku rode on, frowning. “For good grades?”
“What..?” exclaimed Engr. Egun, stood up.
“Sit down, sit down.” the boss urged tenderly,
gesticulating.
Engr. Egun resumed his seat as requested,
looked not unlike an ex-convict that was just released from the prison yard
after many years of imprisonment.
The dark-skinned and plump Dr. Kuku who was
clad in Safari fabric, supported his lower jaw with his left arm that stood
erectly on the table. “So you mean,” he said. “All these things I have been
hearing are mere unfounded rumours?” He added, keeping his gaze on his
(Egun’s).
The
sparingly light-complexioned and slim Engr. Egun quickly adjusted himself as he
sat loosely in his seat. “Sir honestly,” he responded. “I don’t really know
where this is coming from.” he said, paused. “Why would someone want to paint
me black?”
“Hmmm…” Dr. Kuku exclaimed. “This is getting
interesting.” He thought aloud.
There was a brief silence.
“Okay,” said the Doc. “You can take your
leave.”
Engr. Egun who was apparently trapped
on the ground, was calm, couldn’t make a move
“I said,” uttered the boss. “You can
take your leave.” He frankly reechoed.
“You mean,” said Engr. Egun. “I can leave..?”
he verified in false pretences, gesticulating.
“Yes,” replied Dr. Kuku. “Since you
have refuted the allegation, what else do you expect me to say?”
From the reactions thus far, the
accused person could sense that the accuser was not yet convinced that he was
innocent. “Okay,” uttered the former. “But I would like to ask, sir…” he said, still
seated.
“What is it?” interrupted the accuser.
“How did you hear such rumour, sir?”
“Of what need would such information be
to you?” responded the boss.
There was absolute tranquility.
“I am asking, Engr. Egun?” reminded the
Doc. “Why do you want to know how I got the rumour?”
“No sir,” said Engr. Egun. “Just that…”
he added, suddenly stopped.
“Just what?” uttered Dr. Kuku. “I
thought clear conscience fears no accusation?” he hinted. “So, I see no reason
you should be worried about this.”
“I am worried because this is
ridiculous.”
“Let me bother about that.” quoth Dr.
Kuku.
“Besides,” said the junior colleague.
“My personality is at stake here.”
The boss smiled stylishly. “Since you are
innocent,” he said. “That shouldn’t bother you at all.” he added, paused.
“After all, rumours are constant.”
Engr. Egun stared at him in silent
awe.
“Now, you can take your leave.”
“Okay sir.” Engr. Egun replied, stood
up and calmly walked towards the door.
The
H.O.D, on his part, leaned on his seat and folded his arms, smiling. “This is the
end of the road for you.” He thought, as he keenly watched the accused walked
away.
In a few seconds interval, Engr. Peter Egun
was out of the office and headed for his as he was deeply preoccupied with fear
of the unknown just like one docked in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Okay,” Dr. Kuku said aloud the moment Engr.
Egun left. “We shall see.”
As time went on, Engr. Peter Egun
remained jittery, not knowing what the next second entailed. Even if he was
innocent, such allegation had a way of making the accused look like an escape
goat in the eyes of the public. He was of the notion that since such news had
gotten to the H.O.D, virtually every staff in the department must have come
across it. This presumption alone made him felt guilty before his colleagues.
Three weeks on, he was eventually caught
in the act. He was spotted in his office collecting gratification from his
class representative who acted as an intermediary between him and the students.
The H.O.D, Dr. Andrew Kuku was alerted immediately to come and see for himself.
Afterwards, Engr. Egun joined his ill-fated
colleague Engr. Joel Okala. His removal raised uncontrollable uproar among his
teeming students who had immensely benefitted from his ‘benevolent’ policy.
Some of the affected undergraduates would have seemingly preferred the death of
their relatives to their benefactor’s sack.
After
Peter’s dismissal, Dr. Kuku reiterated the riot act of his administration to
his workers with a view to ensuring that the likes of engineers Okala and Egun
had a rethink.
However, something unthinkable transpired
merely four weeks after the sack of Engr. Peter Egun; Dr. Kuku was caught
red-handed having carnal knowledge of one of his female students right in his seeming
respected office. That fateful day appeared like the end of the world to the
entire staff and management of the department, and of course the polytechnic
community.
He
was dismissed by the institution and handed over to the police for onward
prosecution. Consequently, he was jailed for twelve years with hard labour.
FDN Nwaozor
Executive
Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri_____________________________________
Follow: @mediambassador
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