African Drama: Frank Ogodo Ogbeche’s Harvest Of Corruption SS1 Literature-in-English Lesson Note

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Frank Ogodo Ogbeche is from the Yala Area of Cross River State. He attended Awori-Ajeromi Grammar School, Agboju in Lagos and the Federal School of Arts and Science Ogoja in Cross River State. He obtained a degree in Communication Arts from the University of Cross River State Calabar and worked in the state Government House of office. He later transferred his services to the presidency (S.G.F). He is working as a senior civil servant.

He is a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPE) and Nigeria Union of Journalism (NUJ).

His plays include The Intruder and the Promises of the Gods. He has some poems in his vernacular language.

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

1. PLOT

The drama centers on Hon. Ade Amaka the minister of External Relations. He uses his official position to corruptly enrich himself. Chief Ade–Amaka connives with Ochuole and Madam Hoha to accomplish his nefarious business. 

The two women are engaged in recruiting young people, mostly graduates, who are desperately in need of a job for this purpose.

He employs Ochuele as a principal officer in the ministry while Madam Hoha operates a hotel. This hotel becomes a meeting place for recruitment as well as an entertainment place where Chief Ade Amaka at the same carries out his diabolic practices. 

Ocahule coincidentally comes in contact with Aloha her schoolmate. This girl is in desperate need of a job. Having roamed the streets for more than three years in search of a job, Ochuole promises to help her get a job in the Ministry of External Relations. She assures Aloho that she will speak to her boss on her behalf and Aloho returns home and breaks the news to her born-again Christian friend Ogeyi who she squats with. Ogeyi perceives danger in the job that Aloho is attempting to accept. She knows Ochuole as a woman of questionable character right from school. 

She discourages Aloha from accepting the job offer but Aloho has exhausted her patience so, she brushes her advice aside and goes on to accept the job. On resumption, Aloho meets Chief Ade Amaka at the madam Hoha’s hotel where the chief had an affair with her. 

He then employs her as a protocol officer. He specifies her job as that of the itinerant officer who will be travelling around the world as the occasion demands. Chief Ade Amaka urges her to start her duty the following day and that she will deliver a document to his business partner in America.

Aloho is amazed at the sudden offer of travelling, but she obeys. At the airport, at the checking point, the document turns out to be cocaine. Aloho is caught and detained. The chief comes to her rescue. He offers a fabulous amount to the judge and the commissioner of police who ensure that the prosecuting office stays away from court. He dismisses the case for lack of evidence.

Aloho is discharged and acquitted. She is amazed that she has suddenly become a free woman in an act that she was caught red-handed.

In the office, Chief Ade Amaka continues in his nefarious practices of awarding contracts indiscriminately as well as inflating the figure. Allegation of embezzlement trails him behind.

Aloho abandons the job, but she realizes that she has become pregnant. Her condition worsens. She informs her friend Ogeyi who advises against abortion. Aloho refuses her advice and goes for an abortion. Three times, she attempted after agreeing with the doctor, and certain mysterious occurrences prevented the operation. She goes home to receive help from her mother and family members.

Ogeyi goes to the police station to investigate the matter. Her visit coincides with the time the Assistant Commissioner was seeking evidence to indict the dubious chief Ade Amaka. Having recorded her story, she returns home. Okpoto the brother of Aloho arrives from home and announces the death of Aloho after she was delivered of her baby.

Chief Ade Amaka is arrested in his office together with Ayo; a clerk, Ochuole and others. The matter is charged to court. Chief Ade pleaded not guilty in all the counts. His defence counsel also argues to free him from the allegation but the plaintiff urges the court to use the weight of evidence to convict him.

The court convicts Chief Ade Amaka for 25 years with hard labour and returns to the Government a sum of one point two billion nairas. The commissioner of police and the chief judge for the connivances receive twenty years imprisonment with hard labour. Ayo the clerk, who assisted the SS3 with vital documents at the cost of two thousand naira, also received five years as his harvest of corruption. 

Madam Hoha and Ochuole received ten years jail sentences each and he ordered the hotel to be sealed.