hessThe morning sun did not bring peace to Chief Solomon's office. Instead, it brought the loud, chaotic chants of human rights protesters gathered outside the military headquarters."Justice for the police officer! No one is above the law!"Chief Solomon stood by the glass window, his face grim as he watched the crowd below. On his massive mahogany desk, three different smartphones were buzzing simultaneously. The media pressure was suffocating, and the internet was refusing to forget the video of Adekunle's arrogance."Sir," his personal assistant whispered, standing nervously at the door. "The Minister of Information called again. They want a public statement by noon.""Tell them the military is investigating," Chief Solomon barked without turning around. "Dismiss the press. No comments."As the assistant hurried out, Chief Solomon picked up his private, encrypted satellite phone. Brute force could not solve this. If he used his military boys to force the police to release Adekunle, the public would riot, and the Presidency would be forced to sack him to save face. He needed strategy. He needed the kind of connection that operated in the shadows.He dialed a number that wasn't saved in his contacts. It rang twice before a smooth, calm voice answered."Solomon. I knew you would call," said Senator Otunba, a man whose political machinery controlled the very fabric of the state's judicial system."Otunba, the boy has put my head in the lion's mouth," Chief Solomon said, his voice dropping into a low, deadly serious tone. "The media is feeding on it. I need this fire quenched before it reaches the top."Senator Otunba chuckled softly over the line. "A public fire cannot be quenched with water, Solomon. You quench it by directing the wind somewhere else. If we pull your boy out today, you are finished. We must use tactics.""What do you suggest?" Chief Solomon asked, tightening his grip on the phone."First, the victim—the police officer your boy assaulted. What is his name?""Corporal Sunday," Solomon replied."Good," Otunba said smoothly. "Every man has a price, and a police corporal's price is very low. By noon, my boys will visit his family. A brand-new apartment in a secure estate, a promotion to Sergeant signed by the Inspector General himself, and fifty million Naira in cash. He will release a new video today, stating that the first video was edited, and that Adekunle was actually defending himself from street thugs."Chief Solomon's eyes narrowed. It was brilliant. "And the media?""The media needs a bigger bone to chew," Otunba explained, his tone cold and calculated. "Tomorrow morning, the anti-graft agency will suddenly arrest a high-profile celebrity for money laundering. The internet will completely forget about your son within two hours. Nigerians have short memories.""What about the DPO holding him?" Solomon asked."The DPO is an ambitious man," Otunba replied. "He will receive an official order from 'above' to transfer the case to the state headquarters for 'discreet investigation.' Once the boy enters the state headquarters, he will quietly walk out the back door into a waiting vehicle. But Solomon... your boy must spend one more night in that cell. The public must see him suffer a little so they feel justice is being served."Chief Solomon took a deep breath, looking out at the protesters. The plan was seamless. The network of connections was moving."Deal," Chief Solomon said. "Get it done."He dropped the phone, a cold smile returning to his face. Adekunle would learn his lesson the hard way tonight, but tomorrow, the heavy machinery of power would reset the board.
