Sub Leutenant Oyazimo

In the early 1970s, just after the Nigeria Civil War, the Navy was subjected to massive fraud. Some senior Naval personnel were engaged in corruption, including directing contracts towards friends’ companies. Oyazimo, whose last few months on earth is the basis of this Stage Drama became suspicious of some of the contracts and informed his immediate superior officer. This his superior officer exposed him as a whistle blower. And from then, they made his life hell.

Oyazimo’s wife, Esther was a business woman who brings in perfumes from Cotonou and the money realized from that business was used to support her husband’s house keeping allowance.

An Alhaja who buys perfumes from Esther asked to be introduced into the business. Esther discusses the Alhaja’s request with her husband, who asked her to be very careful. Oyazimo advised the wife to tell the Alhaja to start the business with small capital. But the Alhaja decided to start big with an initial investment of one hundred and sixty pounds. A hefty amount in the early 1970s.

On their way back from Cotonou, the Custom stops and searches their vehicle at Idiroko Border and the Alhaja couldn’t hide the fact that she had gone smuggling from across the border. Her goods were confiscated. Alhaja begs Esther’s husband to use his rank to help collect her goods back.

Oyazimo asked the Alhaja to pay the fine and that he would refund it back to her. The Alhaja claimed she was broke and Oyazimo volunteered to loan her the money to pay the fine. The Alhaja contacts a dubious relative of hers who pretended that he was a Custom Officer to help clear her goods. The Alhaja’s relative duped her.