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The motion detector and decoder blinked in unison as they acknowledged the imbedded chip on the license plate and let the Rover slide by 2 sleepy looking guards playing the “indifferent Mallam” role to the T. Ngozi drummed impeccable nails on the padding of the head rest in a combination of annoyance and anticipation and even before the car came to a complete halt she was heading towards te elevator that would take her into the nerve center of arguably Africa’s most under estimated Secret Service
“The Umbrella of The People” Chief and General (Retired ) Donatus Emelife the 3rd was busy studying Kick Off Magazine with a vexed scowl. Those Ghanaians were at it again. Ever since they dismantled the Eagles in a meaningless friendly the Sabre rattling from Accra had been not just consistent, but actually absurd. He beamed on seeing her and promptly deposited the magazine depicting a smiling Essien into the waste basket, moments before embracing her in his normal bear like hug which as usual left her feeling more like well starched and folded shirt - than his favorite niece. Uncle D was her Fathers older brother, and ever since he had died just months after her own birth he had raised her as if she was his. Under his stern but loving guidance she had evolved from toothless cheeky imp to full grown woman and the apple of his eye. She could still remember when on graduating from Queens how his face had changed from glowing with initial pride on seeing her matriculate in the top 5 percentile of her class, to going pale after hearing that she had signed up with “the Security Corps”.
It was the only fight they had ever had and it had been both loud and bitter as well as controlled and furious. After refusing to wilt to his logic and pleading, as well as his threats and promises of impending doom she had shaved her head ala GI Jane - and on wet grey Wednesday Afternoon had headed for Badagry to commence her Freshman training. For 2 whole years the General withdrew the shadow of his protective Umbrella as well as warmth of his love; but she had come from a long line of Aba women who knew a thing or two about refusing to wilt even to the Union Jack, and her eyes remained locked on her prize. Finally “the Umbrella” had blinked and accepted that some things are just too powerful to fight and just like the song Que Sera Sera - that reminds us that whatever will be will be, he relented with his full court press in realization that a 2nd generation of the family was now in the Secret Service.
It was as if this new acceptance rejuvenated Ngozi. An exceptional student before the patching up of things, she now took it up a notch higher breaking not one but 3 Academy records including the sharp shooter course where pitted up against the cream from Pakistan, The RSA, Kenya and Ethiopia she defied logic and shattered stereotypes by out shooting all sexes and Nationalities in both categories - sidearm and sniper. Uncle D had not only wept openly but had promptly seized her trophy which till today dominates his large Iroko desk right next to the picture of her Dad.- smiling.
Up till the mid 90's the Nigerian Secret Service was an enigma and on the surface just like with almost everything Nigerian was polluted with tribalism, sexism, corruption and a savoire faire attitude of letting sleeping dogs lie or better still, live and let live. Then it was jump started and given not just a new mission in life, but also a new code of conduct and demand for accountability by the late President Abacha. Tired of be ostracized by the powers that be from Washington to Addis he suddenly became determined that while he would not relinquish one iota of control when it came to the domestic affairs of Nigeria itself, he would introduce her as a bigger player in the politics of the Region.
While his troops now became the official “defacto” police force of the Continent his secret service spanned her wings and upgraded her services outside the borders of Nigeria in an effort to supply the Army with the intelligencia it needed to be successful in places like Liberia and Sierra Leone for starters. So it came to be, that while Abacha would continue to score little points at home with his own people who knew him more for his abrasive wickedness, wearing sunglasses at night and munching on Viagra like they were breath mints; he was suddenly giving Nigeria credibility abroad. In other words long before President Obasanjo would lose a certain Liberian named Taylor and the Secret Service would prove their competence to the whole word by finding him within hours; they were already scoring big for Nigeria in a game where goals are intentionally kept from the prying eyes and prickling ears of the masses.
The wicked General....revamped the SSS
One thing the then President changed among many was openly recruit from the private industry and promote people on merit and capability. All of a sudden your serving in say the Biafran Army was not a black mark against you. Rather the Secret Service now wanted to know what you had done in the BA and how well you had done it. People like “Uncle D” were reeled back in from retirement with attractive compensatory packages dangled in front of their noses as well as promises to have unlimited access to the best the Nation had to offer in terms of resources - both human and otherwise. It was under this climate of change and with a new wind blowing that Ngozi had arrived on the scene .Her first cases had been mere finger food, you know just to get her ears wet and see what she could do when left to think for herself and cordinate subsequent plans of action. She arrested diamond smugglers in ECOMOG and brought them back to Nigeria disgraced and in chains. She closed down two fake drug peddling rings in Onitsha and seized a child prostitution Ship off the coast of Benin complete with Indian Captain and first mate.
And then circa 3 weeks ago she gotten her invitation to her first real meal. The thick brown manila folder complete with out dated binding string, had been dropped off in her “In Box” with an urgent request from Uncle D for her to familiarize herself with the contents ASAP. Very concerned about any whispers of nepotism he had never interfered with her assignments always as he put it, allowing Monday to come before Tuesday and waiting for a time when her capabilities and skill would require that they work together because they were the best for that particular case. She was elated because obviously the time had now come and over a snack of Akara, fried fish and yam fries she had thrown herself into digesting the case detail. In addition to the 40 page report it had pictures of a some copper hued Othello caught in various acts of smiling and discussion as well what looked like a set of Kroger Rands.
Not even half way through she realized that this was going to be a very complicated case and that it would take all of her training, wit and intuition to close it. All the players were exceedingly intelligent, had deep pockets and were obviously well trained. The only thing they seemed to have little off were scruples. They came from places as far as South Africa and as close as the Delta. Ngozi was about to take on the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force.
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Posted by Robot| 22.12.2007 15:13