Chapter 10: Chapter 10

In the thick wooded area of Dodowa Forest, about fifty kilometres eastwards of the National University of Ghana laid a dead body. No one knew the number of hours the decomposed body has been lying in the bush. The only clue was the forensic analyses of slew tiny winged visitors, blow flies, who were the first to visit the scene, because they smelt death from up to 10 miles away. Seconds turned to minutes and to hours, and days; the insect population changed with the passage of time. Flies, beetles and termites came and went. Exactly which insects infested the decayed body was dependent on the conditions surrounding it, which included the temperature and climate. Some insects came to feed on the decomposed corpse, and others came to lay eggs and larvae.

Undeniably, it was very suspicious for the Police Crime Scene Investigators to gather valuable information for the Post Mortem Interval without the activity of these insects, which would lead to clues about the estimated time that has elapsed since the person died. That was not all. At the crime scene, the experts with the aid of camera and other gadgets gathered blood and other bodily fluids as serology evidence, which will be useful for presumptive and confirmatory tests. From a lay man’s point of view, there was no indication of any cut or bruise, just a mouth opening lifeless body lying down supine. While all these was going on, the stench and offensive odour emanating around was very nauseating. Each death came with dark clouds hovering above the brief silver lining of life; singing dirges for the fatherless, childless and the motherless and yet man remains beast before his fellow man. That is the cry of the people around. After the initial presumptive tests, they mangled the corpse into the black sack and carried it away, staggering their way into the back of the Police Pick-up truck.

Rumours going round town were how could an Uber driver died in such a miraculous circumstance without any trace of the Black Toyota Prius he was driving. Who might have committed such dastard act? Who was the last person to contract his services? Answers to all these questions pointed up to Jobson Martinson and Koryo. However, Koryo could defend herself that she was dropped at her apartment at so and so time and that was all she knew about the matter. She could even argue that she never called any Uber service. Martinson nonetheless had to find genuine answers to address the following issues as provided by the Uber Technology Applications Company. Firstly, Martinson had installed an app on his smartphone and created an online Uber account including email address, password as well as payment plan. This meant that the Uber Company had information about him.

Secondly, Koryo used the app to tell Uber about her pickup location and destination as well. Related to that the Uber driver called Martinson and the app showed the details of the driver; such as name, photo and the type of car. Payments had already being effected by Jobson through Mobile money deduction. It was also on record the passenger has rated the Uber driver on a scale of 1 to 5 (politeness, safety, cleanliness). Similarly, the driver had rated the passenger from 1 to 5 (politeness). All these information were recorded. The entire trip was tracked through the Uber app for accountability and ease.

Concurrently, at Cockindales Hall at the National University of Ghana, where Jobson resides; Ama and Jobson clinched tightly outside in the lawns. They have heard snippets of news about the death of an Uber driver but hardly did they know that just less than twenty four hours ago Jobson had saw off an Uber driver with Koryo. In spite of that Jobson was in cloud nine; since for the first time in more than two years he had embraced Ama and gave her a deep kiss on the lips. He had smelled her scent and odour. For the first time, he could distinguish the scent of Ama from other ladies he knew. Where did he sleep last night?

Twenty five year old Jobson Martinson, born and bred in Switzerland; raised up by a single mother and came to Ghana to look for his father but ended up pursuing Marketing degree and finally falling in love with a twenty year old law undergraduate from the same university could be an amazing story to tell future generations. Their kiss was melodramatic. They pulled back, panting and looking at each other. “I love you, Ama.” Jobson said calmly. Ama also replied. “I love you, darling.” They began to kiss once again; this time passionately. Jobson held Ama by the waist and try to take her into the building, still kissing. Another black Toyota Prius pulled a stop beside them. Four men in mufti jumped down from the car. “Stop there! Put your hands on your heads.” The two love-birds continued to kiss. The four men, who initially came in a Rambo style, mellowed a bit and waited patiently for the kiss to end; but there was no sign of the kiss ending soon. The driver blew the horn to attract their attention, which startled them from their clenched. One of the men approached them to solicit information. The supposed men were indeed Police investigators; and professionals as they knew their work. They were aware that the University community was an autonomous institution with its own rules and regulations. They could not make any arrest without the permission of the Vice-Chancellor or the Registrar of the school.

“We are looking for a young man called Jobson Martinson.” Jobson and Ama felt nervy at first but the former gathered courage to own up. “I am Jobson. Any problem, Sirs?” The Officers identified themselves with their ID cards and further produced a photograph of Jobson in a blue Denim Jeans and a Sweat T-Shirt. “Yes, you are being invited to Adentan Police Station for questioning in relation to the death of an Uber driver yesterday.” Jobson calmly agreed to visit the Police station on condition that they should take the lead. He will follow later with his own Lawyer. The Officers jumped into their car and left. Ama then made some few calls to some lawyer friends including some lecturers. She managed to land on Lawyer Abena Agyeiwaa, one of the most respected lecturers in Criminal and Homicide Laws. She agreed to meet them at Adentan Police Station at exactly 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).